Strike halts hospital construction

3,000 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (I.O.U.E.) walked off the job early Wednesday morning in a province wide strike due to frustration that contract demands are not being met.

Eric Giroux, Local 793 union spokesman for North Bay, says there a several key issue in the dispute for his members including wages.

“The reason why we are striking is we had some issues on our contract that was due and with the companies and that we disagreed on some things and that’s why we are on a legal strike since this morning at 12:01.”

“The issues, two things, travel the expense room and board with the cost of living rising … it almost doubled since three years ago, so we have to have an increase for those things, so those are the big issues,” he states.

He says with the strike landing right in the height of construction season the union hopes the five private companies will come back to the table with suitable offers quickly.

“Hopefully anytime would be a good time … as soon as possible, because we hate to be behind. But we have to take that step back for a while or until it’s resolved, because it’s very important for the future.”

The move by the I.O.U.E. Local 793 members, who operate construction cranes, bulldozers and heavy equipment, is already being felt locally with work at the new hospital site almost grinding to a halt.