Union, BIZ argue for, against remote work for civic employees

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This article was published 21/09/2023 (1053 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Remote work triggered extensive debate at city hall Thursday, with some pushing to expand work-from-home options for municipal employees and others calling to immediately end the practice.

During an executive policy committee meeting, councillors heard the city’s flexible workplace program is key to keeping and attracting staff.

“We know that this is a trend that is going to be the new norm… We’ll need to do it in order to compete (for staff),” Gord Delbridge, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500, told committee members. “We may end up losing staff (if we don’t offer this).”

Delbridge, the head of the city’s largest union, said about 800 of the city employees he represents work from home at least part time.

He told media remote work has also been linked to reduced sick time and increased productivity. Delbridge said he expects union members will ask CUPE to push for remote work commitments to be added their collective agreements.

“I suspect this will be a priority (in bargaining)… Working from home is a sign of the times,” he said.

A public service report on the city’s flexible workplace program notes 1,550 staff — or 15 per cent of the city’s 10,400 employees — currently work remotely, at least part time. The report indicates the program cut costs without sacrificing productivity and states the vast majority of city employees want it to continue.

But others told EPC members the remote-work trend contributed to steep losses in the downtown economy.

“If folks aren’t downtown, what does that mean for the city? More businesses could close, which means less business tax collected, empty offices, buildings, parking lots, that (drives) down (the) value of properties,” said Kate Fenske, chief executive officer of the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the BIZ says 150 businesses closed, which cost the city about $970,000 in lost business tax revenue. Fenske noted the trends was linked to an overall loss of downtown office workers, not just civic employees.

While she didn’t call on the city to force all employees to return to their offices, Fenske suggested the city can be a model for other downtown employers.

“What government does, how it leads and how it serves, matters,” she said. “Nearly half of downtown workers are in the public sector. The City of Winnipeg is among downtown’s top five largest employers.”

Councillors were divided on the issue.

Coun. Matt Allard told EPC remote work has the potential to address several city concerns, including the reduction of traffic congestion and greenhouse-gas emissions. Allard (St. Boniface) said council should direct the public service to increase work-from-home offerings “where appropriate” to help attract and retain staff.

At the other end of the spectrum, EPC took no action on a motion from Coun. Russ Wyatt that called on council to immediately direct the city’s chief administrative officer to end work-from-home options for all employees.

That motion was seconded by EPC member Coun. Evan Duncan, who said he’s heard customer service has suffered due to the program, with some residents and businesses struggling to reach municipal employees.

“It’s frustrating and I’m frustrated now, as a councillor, hearing from residents that don’t like the way that, ultimately, their tax dollars are being spent…. People are at work in person because they’re accountable and that’s what the people of Winnipeg want — accountability,” he said.

Mayor Scott Gillingham told media he expects there may be some cases where work-from-home options are appropriate, but the top priority must be ensuring the best possible customer service for Winnipeggers.

“(For) any current work-from-home arrangements that are customer-service… (the) public-facing jobs, I’d like us to consider returning those individuals back to work,” said Gillingham.

However, the mayor said he doesn’t support calls to either end or expand the program.

“I don’t want to see the program expanded and I won’t support it being eliminated. I believe there may be a place for some level of work from home,” he said.

After a lengthy discussion, EPC opted to consider the update on the program again next month, asking staff to provide more information at that point.

Meanwhile, EPC opted to delay its vote on a citywide curbside compost collection program until October. A public service report proposes to add the service in 2030, which would cost each single-family home $96 per year.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga