Reliance Home Comfort workers in Ontario strike after company imposes terms

Union takes job action after parties disagree over two-tier wage system

Reliance Home Comfort employees in Ontario who install and repair heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment walked off the job on May 2 after the company imposed new terms and conditions of employment.

UPDATE: Ontario Reliance Home Comfort workers ratify agreement

The union representing the workers and company management were negotiating a new collective agreement when 300 employees walked off the job.

"After our membership voted to reject the company's offer, Reliance Home Comfort imposed unacceptable working conditions, forcing a strike," says Dave Moffat, the Ontario administrative vice-president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union. "The company is also demanding a two-tier wage system that discriminates against new hires. We believe that degrades their skill level and potentially harms customer service."

The 295 clerical and operational employees work out of offices in Windsor, Sarnia, London, Brantford, Cambridge, Burlington, Kingston and Thunder Bay.

Reliance Home Comfort hasn’t commented on the labour dispute.

The union is prepared to return to bargaining at any time, Moffat said.

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