We’re better at snowclearing: CUPE

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This article was published 23/06/2015 (3995 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The largest union at Winnipeg city hall says it can show that civic workers can do a better job of snowclearing, for less money, than the city is paying private contractors now.

Mike Davidson, president of CUPE 500, said his union has a report ready to present to city hall that shows privatizing snowclearing has been a mistake.

“Our report will show a significant improvement, cost-wise, and we are hopeful the city will have a good look at that and take it seriously,” Davidson said today following his presentation to the public works committee.

Davidson said a public campaign the union carried out earlier this year found that most residents are dissatisfied with the quality of snowclearing work done by private contractors.

CUPE 500 launched a telephone hotline and email initiative, which elicited responses from almost 400 residents from across the city.

While not a scientific survey, CUPE 500 said two-thirds of those who contacted the union were unhappy with the quality of snowclearing by private contractors; and that using private contractors has impacted the city’s accountability to citizens and its reputation.

The public works department was instructed to conduct a cost benefit analysis of the snowclearing program, comparing the work and costs done by private contractors with that done by city crews.

The report was due today but it’s expected the department will request more time to complete the work.

City officials have said that about 80 per cent of the snowclearing work is done by private contractors hired through a competitive bidding process.

Davidson said the city has abandoned its management responsibility to private contractors, adding he believes the quality of snowclearing was better before privatization and can be done cheaper.

 

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca