In the event of a work…

In the event of a work related strike or lockout. I believe this is absolutely wrong for the ministry of the environment to involve their authority with regard to collective agreements and negotiations. Giving facility owners the ability to work around licensing restrictions to possibly operate facilities not only puts operations in jeopardy but it will seriously undermine safety and puts everyone at risk for possible environmental disaster.

The Ministry of the Environment is there to ultimately enforce rules and regulations within water and waste water treatment process. However you are not able to give facility owners possible negotiating leverage by staffing facilities with inexperienced or ill prepared employees as they see fit that could extend an owner/corporation issued lockout.

I understand you're position is to facilitate in the event of an emergency to protect drinking water and waste water processes. However many owners/corporations will use this amendment as an opportunity to lockout and staff plants as they see fit in the midst of possible collective agreement negotiations. This is a very slippery slope, and it severely undermines every single unionized operators ability to negotiate a fair collective agreement moving forward.

I am all for emergency and environmental protection measures, however not at the expense of my union brothers and sisters involved.

Sincerely an upset wastewater operator...