Hamiltonians trying to get to work Thursday morning were affected by widespread transit cancellations as striking Hamilton Ontario Water Employees Association (HOWEA) members picketed the City’s transit garage this morning.
“We’re not blocking any buses,” Greg Hoath, Business Manager, International Union of Engineers Local 772, said outside the Hamilton Street Railway garage on Upper James this morning. “We’re giving them a flyer and they’re talking to us.”
“There’s no picket line,” he said as his fellow HOWEA members marched back and forth in front of HSR buses that were waiting to leave the garage. “We’re walking on when it’s a red light, we walk back and forth. When it turns green, if the driver wants to go, the driver can go.”
Hoath says his union is seeking a resumption of negotiations and for City Council to meet their demands.
“This whole situation could be settled for $300,000,” he said. “We wouldn’t even be here if the city of Hamilton would wake up. It’s $300,000. And they won’t talk to us. There is the mayor, the councillors, no one will talk to us.”
City-Wide Transit Impacts
HOWEA’s picket lines began around 4:00 a.m. as city transit workers started reporting for work.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 107 president Eric Tuck, a HSR bus operator himself, was coordinating HSR buses this morning.
Tuck says that as fellow union members, ATU members “stand in full solidarity” with the water workers and are “fully supportive” of their cause.
“We’re always going to respect the legal picket line. We’ve been there, we know what it’s like. I understand their fight, I understand the cause.”
Tuck says he was informed about the picket line shortly after 4:00 a.m. and arrived at the garage to ensure safety for everyone involved.
He confirmed that Hamilton Police were on the scene earlier in the morning and determined that the picket line was legal.
“It’s unfortunate that you know the everyday passenger that’s out there, trying to get to work, waiting for service,” Tuck said. “I wish that were within our control. We have to respect that there is a picket line.”
“We’ve come to an agreement that they’re going to let one of us go with each light cycle, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Hundreds of HSR buses queued for hours as thousands of Hamiltonians were stranded without any knowledge of why HSR buses were not operating across the City.
The City Manager’s Office issued a one-paragraph statement at 8:47 a.m. acknowledging transit disruptions.
The City has issued no further statements or updates.
Striking Water Workers Acknowledge Impact of Disruptions
Hoath says he and his fellow striking workers “don’t want somebody not to get to work,” saying he understands why some HSR riders will be frustrated at the picket action.
“I understand, and I can sincerely apologize. But our target is the city council. They have to understand what they’re doing.”
Hoath states the water workers will continue to picket various City of Hamilton sites.
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v. 1.0.0
Published: May 29, 2025
Last updated: May 29, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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v. 1.0.0 original version