Domenic Murdaca, union representative for the 274 Horizon workers who have been on strike since June 17, said that at Tuesday's meeting with the company, management made it clear they were not prepared to discuss certain issues if they go back to the bargaining table.

At a meeting Tuesday night, union membership voted not to go back to the table and instead continue to strike.

The contract with IBEW Local 636 expired May 31. And a mediator appointed following the expiration of the agreement was unable to get both sides to agree to a new one before the June 17 strike deadline.

Murdaca said the main issues that need to be address surround labour relations, which have soured since the 2005 merger of St. Catharines Hydro with the utility in Hamilton, which formed Horizon. As well, he said, the company has yet to harmonize wages and benefits between workers in Hamilton and their counterparts in St. Catharines, who receive less.

He said that since the company told him they would not be addressing those issues at the bargaining table, the strike will have to continue.

"Until they're prepared to address those, we won't be back at the table," he said.

Sandy Manners, a spokesperson for Horizon Utilities, said she would not discuss specific issues, but that the employer is committed to continuing negotiations as soon as possible.

"We're prepared to work on a settlement," she said.

Speaking Monday as the union was picketing in from the Horizon Utilities on Vansickle Road, lineman Paul Bryant said labour relations have seriously deteriorated in the last three years, so much so that the low morale is affecting safety.

"If you go to work disgruntled, your head's not in the right place," he said.

Another issue involves former St. Catharines hydro workers now commuting to Hamilton and Bryant said there's a concern the proposed merger with Guelph will result in some employees having to commute even further.