Municipal strike in northern Ont. turns nasty

Contract negations are continuing in Black-River Matheson, where a labour dispute involving municipal workers has been heated, with insults thrown and even the laying of criminal charges.

Many residents are unhappy with how the township is handling public criticism and the workers on strike. In turn, town officials accuse CUPE members of spreading misinformation.

Union workers are standing firm on their demand for higher wages, rejecting the town’s latest deal in a forced vote.

The township also lifted its lockout, prompting the strike.

“We’d like it to be over, but we want a fair deal,” said Tom Pullen of CUPE Local 1490.

The situation has turned violent, in some cases. Two high-level town staff are facing criminal charges, accused of stalking two union members.

One is also charged with assaulting a worker on the picket line.

“It’s definitely a shock,” Pullen said.

Contract negations are continuing in Black-River Matheson, where a labour dispute involving municipal workers has been heated, with insults thrown and even the laying of criminal charges. (Photo from video)

“I didn’t expect to see that come out of them.”

Mayor Doug Bender said the town’s legal counsel is defending them since they were on-duty at the time.

“The municipality has a policy in place to look after the legal responsibilities of those employees,” Bender said.

But some residents don’t want tax dollars spent on defending criminal cases.

Robert McKnight sent a disapproving email to town councillors last month. One called it “laughable,” replying, “Nobody is forcing you to live here.”

“I couldn’t believe that that person responded to me in that way,” McKnight said.

“‘If you don’t like it here, move.’ That’s what she told a constituent.”

Councillors are on edge

The councillor in question declined to comment, but Bender said councillors are on edge from receiving rude comments over the last year.

“It isn’t good, professionally, but at the same time, I wasn’t there to know if there was some previous interaction,” he said.

Bender himself was filmed antagonizing union members late last year. He said the workers were being offensive beforehand.

“They’re using every means to try to … look like as if we’re unreasonable and I think we’re being very reasonable,” he said.

Several union members are banned from stepping foot in the town hall. Tensions are high, both from this and a major tax increase.

“I would like to see a new town council put in place because these people are not able to do the job,” McKnight said.

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“I don’t really understand their theories, sometimes, and the way they go about things, but … we’re going to see it through,” Pullen added.

The union also called the town’s CAO “inappropriate” for emailing workers directly to offer “re-employment” under its deal.

No updates yet on whether anyone has accepted.