Strike delays elevator service in Thunder Bay

Aprovince-wide strike is causing elevator service delaysin Thunder Bay.

The 1,400 Ontario members of theInternational Union of Elevator Constructorshave been off the job since May 1, when theircollective agreementwith the National Elevator and Escalator Association expired.

Doug Steen's company, Steen Property Management, runs20buildings in Thunder Bay, about 15 with elevators.

Normally, he said,elevator maintenance workersrespond to problems in one or two hours. But while they're on strike, supervisors have been filling in.

Steen said the workload islikely too much for them to manage. When a power surgeleft one of his elevators needing service,it took a long time to geta response.

"They were delayed probably 10 to 12 hours before they got there," Steen said. So that building was compromised for that... period of time."

Steen saidtheproperty only had one elevator and most of the residents are elderly. Hesaid that kind of situation is whatworries him mostabout elevator service delays.

"If you're 90 years old and you don't have an elevator and there's only one in the building ... you're stuck there," he said. "Or in the case of a wheelchair or anybody who's infirm, they're in trouble."

'No-win situation'

Retired elevator mechanic Tim Beach saida few supervisors brought in by the elevator companies can't do the job of Thunder Bay's 17 elevator workers, who maintain hundreds of elevatorsbetween Marathon to the Manitoba border.

Beach, who now works as an instructor and is walking the picket line with his former colleagues, said they are nothappy that elevator service is being disrupted.

"The fellas take pride in the work that they do, they know the customers personally," he said. "They're part of the community. So it's hard on them. It really is."

Beach addedthe workers want stalled negotiations between the union and the elevator associationto resume.

The association is comprised of four companies: ThyssenKrupp, Otis, Schlindler and Kone.

Steen said he hopes the dispute is resolved soon.

"[I] just hope things work out for both parties. Obviously it's a no-win situation in a strike."