BY CRAIG GILBERT
The board of directors at Greater Sudbury Utilities will meet Wednesday with an eye to ending the 110-plus day old strike by 85 CUPE members.
Last Thursday, Mayor David Courtemanche and Canadian Union of Public Employees Ontario president Sid Ryan met, agreeing to get both sides back to the negotiating table.
As a result, Ryan called off a general union boycott of the city, which could have cost Sudbury businesses the chance to host conventions, meetings and other events.
Also, Ward 2 Councillor Claude Berthiaume withdrew a notice of motion calling for the resignation of the 10-member board, which includes Courtemanche, Ward 1 Councillor Terry Kett and deputy mayors Ron Dupuis and Doug Craig. Craig chairs the board.
About 82 inside and outside employees at the utility have been out since June 19. They say they're trying to protect life-long benefits for new hires, which the board has been trying to claw back.
The strike has had an effect on road work around the city since there are no crews available to move hydro poles.
Several poles have presented a problem on Paris Street, where crews are working to widen a section around Indian Road to five lanes as well as on a sewer project.
According to Rob Falcioni, the city's roads and drainage engineer, all work is ?on schedule,? though poles on Paris Street may delay the completion of some sections of sidewalk and curb until next construction season.
Workers at the site have indicated the poles are delaying work and could result in increased costs to the city.
