Northside Toyota unionized service staff in position to strike

About 25 unionized workers at Northside Toyota are in position to strike after a vote held recently.

Scott Jackson, president of Industrial Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), said the workers at Northside Toyota are seeking a higher rate of pay than what is currently being offered.

"These guys are looking at the way inflation is and interest rates and cost of housing and they are expecting a little bit more than in the past,” said Jackson. “It is a difficult situation and workers all over Ontario."

A recent strike vote was approved by membership, but Jackson said the union is still at the bargaining table with management.

“I am hopeful we will get an agreement,” he said.

Reached for comment on Friday, Northside Toyota owner Mario Palumbo said the unionized workers are in the service department at the dealership.

“We are still negotiating and hopefully everything will get resolved,” said Palumbo.

IAM Local 2332 in Sault Ste. Marie represents workers at six different dealerships in town, said Jackson.