Over 850 Niagara Parks Commission employees, represented by OPSEU Local 217, will be in a legal strike position later this week.
The workers, who have been without a contract since last year, are demanding fair wage increases to keep up with inflation.
Local 217 President Mike Goforth, is accusing the Ontario Government’s Treasury Board of holding up negotiations, and is encouraging the government to stay out of local bargaining.
Goforth says the government is trying to withhold higher wages for Niagara Parks workers in a bit to set an example in upcoming contract talks with Ontario’s Public Service, which represents 60,000 employees.
He says the potential strike, which could happen as early as Thursday, would close down Niagara Parks’ operations such as restaurants, stores, golf courses, and heritage sites.
“The Police Services will be essential services so they will still be doing the buildings and making sure everything is secure in the park, but then all the lawns won’t be getting cut, our golf courses will be shut, our heritages sites will be closed, the retail stores and restaurants will be shutdown. It won’t be good.”
Goforth has been texting Ontario Premier Doug Ford about the Treasury Board’s involvement.
Niagara Parks is responsible for the land extending 56 kilometres from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake, including the areas directly surrounding Niagara Falls.
Operating under the provisions of the Niagara Parks Act, the agency is entirely self-funded, generating its revenue from retail, attractions, and tourism operations rather than relying on tax dollars.
Story credit: Bonnie Heslop
Image credit: Bonnie Heslop
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