110 days in, Windsor Salt strike takes toll on workers
It's been 110 days since Windsor Salt workers went on strike on Feb. 17.
The impasse is taking a toll on the 250 workers who make $300 a week in strike pay.
“The longer a dispute goes the greater the benefits of the eventual deal have to be for both parties because you've lost so much,” said Rafael Gomez, director of the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources at the University of Toronto.
Some are using side gigs to make ends meet.
“Luckily some of us have that,” said John O’Keefe. “Some of us don't. Those guys that don't, unfortunately, are feeling a lot more but we’re sticking together. We’re not going anywhere.”
Bill Wark, president of Unifor Local 1959, says that face to face negotiations have not occurred since an alleged attack on an employee in April which has slowed the process.
“You do a lot of repetitive work over and over again and you can't clearly identify objects and issues that are the parties' priorities,” said Wark.
Windsor police say no one has been arrested and the investigation is continuing. The company says they are working with both police and private investigators to find the assailants.
In order to get both sides back to the bargaining table face to face, a meeting has been set up between union reps and Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton.
In the meantime, Gomez has some recommendations.
“You throw out the things you don't agree on. Put them aside. Focus on what you can agree on as a problem. Solve that first and that builds up trust and confidence,” he said.
Gomez also suggests bringing in a third party to sit at the table.
“When you have the no-exit option you're forced to eventually come up with the deal so that's what I'm hopeful happens here,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.