Wednesday’s Hamilton City Council meeting was repeatedly interrupted by a group of striking Hamilton Water workers, recessing three times due to the disruptions. The Hamilton Police removed union leader Greg Hoath, and the Council eventually continued to meet as hecklers tried to drowned them out.
The Hamilton Encampment Support Network also attended the meeting, joining in the heckling at times as they held up banners calling on City Council to meet with them.
Deputy City Clerk Janet Pilon began the day’s front confrontation.
Pilon ordered private security guards to tell the Hamilton Encampment Support Network to stop holding two banners at the back of the public gallery. Pilon first dispatched the City’s private security guards.
The private security guards professionally requested that HESN lower the banner, explaining that the City was making the request. HESN responded that they were engaged in Charter-protected expression, as per Gammie v. Town of South Bruce Peninsula, 2014 ONSC 6209. The private security guards left.
A few minutes later, Pilon came into the public gallery to confront HESN.
Pilon falsely claimed that HESN was blocking TPR‘s camera, and falsely implied I [Joey Coleman] was requesting they lower the banner. HESN responded that they were confident that I had not done so, citing my consistent position upholding everyone’s Charter right to expression.
Pilon attempted three times to get me involved in the matter. I told her not to involve me.
Striking Water Workers Disrupt Meeting
At approximately 10:10 a.m., forty minutes into the meeting, Greg Hoath, Business Manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 772, began heckling over the Council meeting.
They were cautioned to stop interrupting the meeting.
The Hamilton Encampment Support Network then moved across the gallery to join the striking workers.
Infrequent heckles continued for the next 15 minutes or so.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., the strikers rose to their feet, and Hoath increased his heckling; his union comrades joined in, drowning out the Council meeting.
At 10:31 a.m., Council recessed. Senior staff left the room.
At 10:41 a.m., five Hamilton Police officers arrive. Hoath is told to leave the Council Chamber.
Approximately three minutes later, Police escorted him out of the Chamber.
At 10:45 a.m., Council recesses again due to the interruptions by striking water workers.
City Council needs to complete its business by 12 noon. Four council members plan to leave to travel to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference in Ontario.
At 10:50 a.m., the meeting resumes. Councillors conduct business while the striking workers continue to heckle from the gallery.
At 10:54 a.m., senior staff return to the Council Chamber.
During the next 15 minutes or so, the hecklers attempt to distract Council. They are ignored.
At 11:10 a.m., the hecklers make their final statements, declare they are leaving (and will return), and depart City Hall.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: May 30, 2025
Last updated: May 30, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version