National Elevator Escalator Association (NEEA) pleased that the Ontario Labour Relations Board has issued a consent order that requires striking elevator technicians back to work for residential buildings in GTA, Simcoe County

Work to resume in new and existing residential buildings on June 17^th

TORONTO, June 14, 2013 /CNW/ - The National Elevator Escalator Association (NEEA) is pleased that the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) has issued a consent order that requires striking workers on residential construction and repair to return to work, effective June 15, 2013.  As well, the OLRB directed the IUEC not to picket residential buildings once work recommences.

Residential work includes constructing, altering, decorating, repairing or demolishing in both new and existing residential buildings, such as apartment towers. Earlier this week, NEEA began asking elevator technicians assigned to work in new and existing residential buildings in certain jurisdictions to return to their positions on June 17^th.  The IUEC leaders advised workers not to comply with the law.  As a result, NEEA filed an application with the OLRB, which resulted in this consent order.

Ontario's Labour Relations Act requires any strikes affecting construction of new residential buildings, as well as repairs at existing residential buildings, to end on June 15, 2013, for the City of Toronto, the Regions of Halton, Peel, York, Durham and the County of Simcoe.  Workers who have been on strike must return on June 17^th to perform this residential work. Workers who fail to comply with the order from the OLRB would be engaging in an unlawful strike.  Individual workers could be subject to fines of $2,000 each, and the IUEC could be subject to a fine of $25,000.

NEEA was also pleased to return to mediation with the IUEC this week.  NEEA has proposed a significant wage increase and remains hopeful that a collective agreement can be reached, and will continue to work towards that end.

Ontarians should rest assured that elevating devices continue to be safe, and disregard false claims made by some union leaders.  To help protect the most vulnerable Ontarians, NEEA has assigned top priority for repairs to elevators and escalators in hospitals and nursing homes.  Buildings with only one elevator are also being prioritized.  The Technical Standards Safety Authority (TSSA), Ontario's regulator with responsibility for safety inspections of elevating devices, continues to perform its work during the strike.

Workers have been on strike since May 1, 2013, when -- despite NEEA's best efforts to achieve a negotiated collective agreement with IUEC -- the union broke off negotiations and opted to go on strike.

Since that time, NEEA member companies have been deploying trained, qualified employees to keep the vast majority of Ontario's elevating devices in good working order.  Even under trying circumstances, today more than 95% of all of the elevators and escalators in Ontario maintained by KONE, Otis, Schindler and ThyssenKrupp Elevator continue to be fully operational.

About National Elevator Escalator Association (NEEA)

NEEA is made up of member companies KONE, Otis, Schindler and ThyssenKrupp Elevator.  Ontario's Labour Relations Act designates the NEEA as an employer bargaining agency.  In this role, NEEA bargains collectively with the IUEC for all employers performing Industrial-Commercial-Institutional (ICI) construction in Ontario.

SOURCE: National Elevator Escalator Association (NEEA)

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