Assiniboine Park Conservancy move to cut union jobs challenged

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This article was published 27/02/2019 (2416 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The union representing employees at Assiniboine Park Conservancy is calling on Winnipeg city hall to review the non-profit agency’s operating practices, following a dispute over the termination of custodial workers.

Gord Delbridge, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500, sent a letter Tuesday afternoon to Mayor Brian Bowman and all members of council, explaining he was concerned about the agency’s public accountability and compliance with the terms of a 2010 agreement that set out its obligations when it took over management of the park and zoo.

Delbridge said the Conservancy’s decision to eliminate 14 unionized custodial employees and replace them with subcontractors was done in a breach of the collective agreement.

“We are told by (the Conservancy) the decision to contract out is strictly cost savings. However, we have not been offered any detailed costing or business plan to substantiate the projected savings,” Delbridge states in a letter to all members of council.

Delbridge added he believes the Conservancy has already hired a contractor to replace the unionized workers, adding he questions whether the contract was awarded through a public tendering process — as required in the 108-page management agreement.

“When we met with (the Conservancy) to ask questions and to deal with this, they told us the decision has already been made and they don’t have to tell us anything,” Delbridge told the Free Press. “We’re going to be pushing with the mayor and council that they comply with the terms of reference in the (2010) agreement with the City of Winnipeg. They should be held to the same standard as the City of Winnipeg.”

A Conservancy spokeswoman confirmed the work is being contracted out, but denied anyone is losing their jobs.

Laura Cabak, manager of communications, said nine employees are impacted and they’ve been given the options of bumping into another position if they’re qualified; taking seasonal work; or taking a layoff.

Cabak said the Conservancy had been using a combination of unionized and contract staff for custodial services.

“Following a thorough cost-benefit analysis, the decision was made to shift the remaining in-house custodial services to a new external service provider,” Cabak told the Free Press through an email exchange.

Cabak said CUPE has been “involved and consulted” throughout the decision-making process.

However, Delbridge denied that statement, explaining that’s why the concerns are going to arbitration.

Delbridge said Conservancy management has withheld information from the union, despite repeated requests. When the union offered to meet with management to find the necessary cost-savings that would preclude the job eliminations, a process stipulated in the collective agreement, he said the union was rebuffed.

As well, Delbridge said the union has filed an unfair labour practise complaint with the Manitoba Labour Board, as the job eliminations occurred after notice was given to bargain a new collective agreement.

The Conservancy “is required to follow the same procedures and policies for procurement, contracting out and tendering as that of the City (of Winnipeg), and it’s clear to us that’s not happening,” Delbridge said.

A spokesman for Bowman confirmed he did receive Delbridge’s letter, but as of the end of day Wednesday he had not yet read it and could not comment.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca