As expected, the province has introduced legislation that would prevent a strike or lockout at Ontario Power Generation.
Labour Minister Laurie Scott says if passed, the bill would send the dispute between OPG and the Power Workers’ Union to arbitration.
The Opposition’s critical of the move, saying the government didn’t even wait for job action to begin before threatening to force the roughly 6,000 worker to return to their jobs.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says the Ford PC’s had other options, but instead ”went straight to the biggest hammer available.”
The Independent Electricity System Operator, which manages Ontario’s power system, has said a strike would put the system’s reliability at risk.
The government says a strike might cause power outages in as little as one week.
The power workers are in a legal position to walkout as of December 26.