Two picketers struck by vehicles at Waterloo airport within 12-hour period

Two drivers have been charged for hitting people picketing outside the Region of Waterloo International Airport in Breslau.

The separate collisions happened within 12 hours of each other.

Waterloo Regional Police said officers were first called to Airport Road and Fountain Street North around 7:40 p.m. Monday for a demonstrator who had been struck by a vehicle that was trying to pass picketers. No injuries were reported.

Police said the driver responsible was charged with dangerous driving.

The second incident happened the next day at around 6 a.m.

Members of the Police Liaison Team were on scene when a “brief interaction” broke out between a driver and picketers.

Police said one of the demonstrators was struck by a vehicle which then sped “past the picketers at a high rate of speed.” No serious injuries were reported.

A 28-year-old man from Dundas was charged with stunt driving.

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1656 went on strike Monday after failing to reach a deal on contract negotiations with the Region of Waterloo. The union represents 240 workers involved in road maintenance, landfill services, clean water treatment and emergency vehicle repair.

According to CUPE 1656 Chief Steward Mike Hepditch, approximately 20 of them work at the Region of Waterloo International Airport.

On Monday, some demonstrators were seen “delaying” vehicles heading into the airport from Fountain Street.

The region has advised travellers to arrive an hour early to the airport but said the job action has not affected the departures or arrivals of flights.

Picketers plead for patience

On Tuesday afternoon, two school buses filled with CUPE members pulled up outside the Region of Waterloo headquarters. Many of the picketers carried CUPE flags, signs of support or blew horns.

Phil Dominas, president for CUPE 1656, didn’t want to comment on the collisions involving his members, but did stress that they have a right to be there.

“We’re exercising our rights and picketing. We would just ask the public to respect that and be patient with us,” he stated. “We would rather be at the bargaining table bargaining. We’re not there to be a nuisance, but we kind of are, right? We want to make our point known.”

Dominas said the goal is to be seen and heard by the region.

“The purpose of this is to get council’s attention, get back to the [bargaining] table, start honouring their commitment of their last offer that they’ve given us instead of pulling it away.”

Members of CUPE 1656 have pledged to continue picketing until they get what they want.

“As long as it takes,” Dominas insisted. “We’re ready to go back to the table tonight.”

Strike impact

The Waste Management Centres in Cambridge and Waterloo remain closed to both residential and commercial customers due to the strike.

CTV News reached out to the Region of Waterloo but they did not want to comment on the job action.

In a news release, however, they said: “The region remains available to negotiate as soon as possible to reach an agreement that is competitive for CUPE Local 1656 staff and affordable for residents.”

When asked about the collisions involving picketers, the region said their thoughts were with the employees involved in both incidents.