Tom parkinson hydro one outages

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Hydro One workers warn Ontario could face the kind of power blackout that crippled the province two years ago if their union goes off the job.

The Society of Energy Professionals, the union representing 1,000 workers, including engineers, is in a position to go on strike or be locked out April 27. Both sides continued to talk past last night's midnight deadline and agreed to refrain from immediate action as long as progress was being made at the bargaining table.

However, union president Andrew Muller said if there's no deal, some members will walk out for a two-hour educational picket at 2 p.m.

The union disputed Energy Minister Dwight Duncan's claim there would be no power disruption if members go off the job.

"I am reasonably satisfied contingency plans are in place in the event of a strike or a lockout," Duncan said, adding that between 200 and 300 managers can fill the void at the provincially own