Workers at Niagara Parks are calling on Doug Ford and his Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) to stop interfering in their contract negotiations. The nearly 850-person unit is a mix of full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers spanning 56km of attractions in the Niagara region. Their roles include retail staff, maintenance workers, park guides, and chefs.
Members of local 217 are calling on their employer to provide fair wages amid skyrocketing costs of living. “With the increased cost of inflation, high gas and food prices, my membership is finding it increasingly difficult to pay rent and basic living expenses” said Local 217 President Mike Goforth.
On May 9, members of the unit held an information picket in Niagara. Approximately 120 members attended the one-hour picket, which received significant local media attention and a visit from MPP Wayne Gates.
Without action from the employer, Niagara Parks workers are prepared to strike to secure fair wages. Their call-to-action calls for an immediate response before the start of the summer tourist season, recognizing the importance of their work not only for Niagara tourism and Niagara Parks, but also the effect of a potential strike for many hotels and restaurants in the greater Niagara Region.