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NORTH BAY – North Bay Hydro is taking CUPE Local 72 to court in an attempt to get an injunction to limit who can picket where and when, and to prevent local activists and members of the community from lobbying city councillors and the mayor.

“They’re trying to shut down democracy,” says CUPE Local 72 president Ken Hull, representing 34 hydro workers on strike since July 4th. “They will be trying to stop people from ‘harassing’ local politicians who just happen to sit as majority shareholders on the Holding Company (Holdco) that oversees North Bay Hydro – it’s disgusting and the people of North Bay should be furious that ratepayers are paying for such an abuse of our justice system.”

“They should be at the negotiating table trying to settle this strike and not trying to prolong it in the courts,” says CUPE National Representative Jo-Ann Breton. “We cannot understand why the Mayor and councillors are not directing North Bay Hydro to settle this by sending outstanding issues to binding arbitration by a neutral, third party as the union has offered repeatedly,” says Breton.

“If they want to start a war with the labour movement in North Bay this is the way to do it,” says CUPE Assistant Regional Director for Northern Ontario Ren 0046ortin. “This employer has done everything possible to prolong the strike and refused every opportunity to reach a settlement – now the people of North Bay should ask local politicians why they’re spending ratepayers’ money on frivolous court action instead of settling this dispute.”

Proceedings have been scheduled at the North Bay courthouse for 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (Friday).

“We will have our day in court,” says Breton. “This corporation is now trying to shield local politicians from what? – from doing their job? – it’s preposterous.

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For further information, please contact:
Jo-Ann Breton , CUPE National Representative
705-474-9765 - 705-363-8441 (cell)
Ken Hull, Local 72 President
705-472-1054
Ren 0046ortin, CUPE Assistant Regional Director
CUPE Sudbury Area Office
705-674-7557
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications
416-292-3999