Media Advisory - OLRB ruling clarifies requirement that workers perform repairs to broken residential elevators in GTA, Simcoe County

National Elevator & Escalator Association (NEEA) Strike Update

TORONTO, June 27, 2013 /CNW/ - Late yesterday, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) ruled that:

"Where an elevator that is contained in a residential project within the City of Toronto, the Regional Municipalities of Peel, Halton, York, Durham, or the Corporation of the County of Simcoe ceases to operate, the work involved in:

i. attending at the location and determining the cause of the malfunction; and,

ii. correcting the malfunction where that correction involves replacing a defective component, removing a foreign object or recalibrating the components of the elevator to restore its operating capacity, is work that is covered by section 150.1 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, S.O. 1995, c.1, as amended (the "Act")."

This means that the work of repairing broken elevators in the residential construction sector in the designated areas is residential construction work that workers are required to perform under s150.1- s150.6 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995.

NEEA, industry representative for member companies, Otis, KONE, ThyssenKrupp and Schindler, will be providing updates for media on the status of elevator and escalator maintenance and repairs during the strike by workers in Ontario, and the status of negotiations with the union.

NEEA members continue to service Ontario's elevating devices, with an emphasis on protecting the most vulnerable Ontarians, including assigning top priority for repairs to elevators and escalators in hospitals and nursing homes.  In addition, buildings with only one elevator are being prioritized.

Ontarians should rest assured that elevating devices continue to be safe.

Who:	Patrick Moran, Spokesperson, NEEA
Date:	June 27-28, 2013
Time:	Availabilities upon request

SOURCE: National Elevator Escalator Association (NEEA)

Media wishing to obtain a copy of the OLRB ruling, or to arrange a time for an update interview with NEEA can contact:
Mohammad Mahasneh, [email protected] (quick response), 416-864-7112 x2234