Enbridge Gas Distribution location on Keil Drive in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of Enbridge Gas)Enbridge Gas Distribution location on Keil Drive in Chatham. (Photo courtesy of Enbridge Gas)
Chatham

Strike over wages looms at Enbridge Gas

Some Enbridge Gas workers across Ontario could go on strike next week to back their demands for better pay.

Unifor local 999, which represents the storage, transmission, and operations employees at Enbridge, said inadequate compensation from a profitable employer is driving union members towards a legal strike at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday.

“We refuse to let inflation eat into our wages,” said union president Jeff Gray. “We are ready to negotiate a resolution but it must ensure our wages are protected.”

Enbridge Gas Spokesperson Andrea Stass said the company offered the workers what she called a fair and reasonable proposal that is consistent with other agreements recently ratified by Enbridge Gas members of Unifor.

"Enbridge Gas and members of our Unifor Local 999 who support our storage and transmission operations in Ontario have been engaged in labour negotiations and that's been going on for some time. Unfortunately, that agreement was not ratified," said Stass.

Stass said she can't share the specifics of the offer out of respect for the workers and the process, but added Enbridge is hopeful a settlement is reached that's fair for both sides. However, if negotiations fail, she said the company has contingency plans in place to keep the gas safely flowing to customers.

"The provision of safe and reliable gas to our customers is always our priority and we do have comprehensive contingency plans. They've been carefully developed should a labour disruption occur. We're confident that we can continue to operate our business safely and it will not impact service to customers," she said.

Unifor 999 said negotiations with a mediator failed to produce a satisfactory offer from the employer, leaving Unifor members little option but to start strike action.

The union said a strike would impact the safe and reliable operations at the largest storage and transmission plant in Canada and potentially impact the delivery of natural gas to customers.

There are more than 100 workers at the storage, transmission, and operations at Enbridge Gas facilities in Ontario.

If Enbridge Gas cannot table a fair offer, the union said picket lines would be up at the Dawn Hub at 3332 Bentpath Line, Dawn-Euphemia.

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