THUNDER BAY -- Mayor Keith Hobbs joined striking Community Care Access Centre workers Friday morning on the picket line, saying two years without a raise is long enough.
“You paid the price and now it’s time to get a settlement. I’m with you for sure on that,” Hobbs said in his brief, early-morning visit.
“I negotiated a lot of contracts and sometimes we took reductions or we froze our wages during my time as president of the police association. But when you pay the price it’s time to step up and a two-year freeze is unacceptable to me.”
Michelle McColl, the Ontario Nurses Association Local 14’s labour relations officer, asked Hobbs if he might be able to advocate on the behalf of the 125 unionized workers who walked off the job on Jan. 30.
Hobbs said he’ll be meeting with Health Minister Eric Hoskins in a couple of weeks and promised to mention the situation at that time.
McColl pressed for something quicker.
“Would you be prepared to put a letter to him in advance of that? We can’t wait two more weeks and there are people in this community who needs services,” she said.
“As a representative of the community, we think that that voice needs to be heard. So we would love to see you correspond with Dr. Hoskins and let him know that our community in the Northwest deserves o have these people back to work.”
“I can certainly do that,” Hobbs responded.
The mayor’s reaction came a day after the latest round of labour negotiations broke down.
Tuija Puiras, CEO of the Northwest Community Care Access Centre, said the two sides were brought back to the table on Thursday.
“The mediators brought both sides together for 10 hours of attempted negotiations. Unfortunately the talks broke down again and there are no further (talks) scheduled at this moment,” Puiras said, adding she’s surprised at how long the strike has lasted.
“We did table a very favourable offer that includes wage increases in both years … for our membership, so I’m not quite sure what the sticking point is at this point in time.”
Puiras said Hobbs’s appearance on the picket line was not troubling. The mayor did say he wasn’t taking sides and said he’s appreciative of what companies and management do for the community too.
“People do what they do,” Puiras said.
“But I think people should remember that there are no sides. We’re all on the same side and I’m just trying to get my workers back. We’re just here for the people in the community, all our clients and patients.”
