Employer refuses to bargain, cable technicians forced to strike tomorrow

TORONTO -- Members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Local 5011, will be withdrawing their services effective 8 am tomorrow, June 15.   The strike is against Dependable Home Tech and Intek Communications Inc., who employ 200 technicians in the Simcoe and GTA regions. These employees provide installation and repair services to Rogers customers.

Of the four contractors who have been poised to strike, tentative settlements have been reached with SC360 Markham and Wirecomm, and ratification voting will be take place within the next three weeks. Intek and DHT refused to come to the table prior to the strike deadline.

“These employees have the legal right to strike, and no amount of employer intimidation will change what will happen tomorrow,” stated Kim Ginter, CEP Vice-President Ontario Region. “Attempts to create scab workers by convincing employees to work during the strike is not the way to start a working union/management relationship,” Ginter continued.

Picketing will be taking place at contractor and client locations, Rogers facilities and other strategic locations across Simcoe and the GTA.