Join group consisting of more than 8,000 workers in Ontario
Information technology (IT) professionals at Toronto Hydro voted to join the Society of United Professionals, IFPTE Local 160 on Nov. 26.
The more than 80 employees at Toronto’s municipally-owned local distribution company won their collective bargaining rights after a year-long fight at the Ontario Labour Relations Board caused by management’s delay tactics, said the union.
Toronto Hydro IT employees were aware of the Society of United Professionals because the union already represents Toronto Hydro engineers. Concerns about restructuring, dismissal without cause and transparent hiring practices prompted some IT employees to reach out to the union, said the society.
This is the third group of employees that have chosen the union this year, following the professionals who work for the National Judicial Institute in Ottawa and Toronto’s Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic. The union continues to look for new opportunities to represent new groups of workers, said the union.
The union (formerly The Society of Energy Professionals) is a union of more than 8,000 professionals in Ontario, including engineers, scientists, supervisors and lawyers. Members of the union vote on everything from the union’s constitution and dues to collective agreements and policies, according to the society.
