By Juliet Kadzviti

P.A. workers unhappy with city outsourcing contracts

May 3, 2016 | 12:58 PM

Union employees in Prince Albert are putting their tools down and asking council to keep jobs in the city.

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 160 went head-to-head with city council Monday, May 2, to bring forward a grievance regarding a $600,000 drainage channel contract being outsourced instead of coming to them.

Tony Head, a CUPE staff representative argued the decision to issue the contract privately is a n expensive exercise. He added the city should have consulted with CUPE Local 160 before making its decision.

“That stuff should have come to us; we didn’t have that conversation prior to, and this is where the disputes all rise… having some conversation with the workers that are actually doing the job makes sense, business-wise,” he said.

Head said outside contractors don’t typically employ local people to do the work, which affects their livelihood.

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“This (bid) was never given to local business owners and chances are they are not hiring locally as well in Prince Albert, so these monies are leaving our city,” he said.

Head acknowledged not all jobs can be done locally, but hoped most could be kept here.

“This council maybe needs to not so much focus on this election year or this term, but look forward towards the future of Prince Albert and to the children of that future. Providing jobs and the ability to have our kids apply and work at a good paying job makes sense for the city of Prince Albert,” he said.

Head anticipates the city would take their complaint seriously.

“I hope they hear our message and I hope they make the decision to overturn this grievance and in the future consider the workers and that they have to provide us with information and the services that we have always done, to keep it in-house,” he said.

Head said their collective agreement provides that prior to any work being contracted out, the city consult with CUPE 160 members.

The meeting was held in camera, meaning its details were not for the public. The city declined comment.

julietkadzviti@panow.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow