CUPE local in mediation with City; more than 900 workers involved
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on October 24, 2024.
Herald photo by Al Beeber
City of Lethbridge CUPE member Todd Carter holds up a sign calling for fair wages. More than 900 members of CUPE Local 70 were in mediation with the City Wednesday. If mediation efforts failed, the union will go back to its members to discuss further steps.LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com
More than 900 City of Lethbridge employees who belong to Local 70 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees could go on strike if mediation efforts Wednesday failed to produce a deal.
CUPE members gathered outside the bus barns on the city’s northside Wednesday afternoon as a show of solidarity with each other.
Sandra Walker, a national representative of CUPE, said negotiations with the City have been ongoing for 20 months. The local represents inside and outside workers in a range of City departments, the only ones which aren’t affected being Transit and the electrical department.
“As with everything else, it’s certainly a lot of monetary issues. All workers in Alberta are experiencing this ridiculous cost of living increase and wages aren’t really keeping up with that,” said Walker.
“So we’re working on trying to get a deal today. We wanted to see some support from our members to say we need fair wages,” Walker said of the gathering.
Jeremy Charlesworth, member engagement co-ordinator for Local 70, said mediation with the City started on Wednesday and presently there are no strike plans.
“Nothing will be impacted yet,” he said.
Mediation has to be done first and depending on the results, there is a cooling off period, he said. Departments with CUPE members involved in the mediation efforts include Waste and Recycling, Water, Wastewater, Parks, Leisure and Recreation, and Community Services.
Walker says bargaining has gone on “too long” but noted there has been more cooperation in the last couple of months by the City.
“We’re prepared to stay for as long as it takes today,” said Walker, adding Wednesday was “the day that we either get a deal or we don’t.”
If mediation wasn’t successful yesterday, the local or employer would have to make a decision on further steps, Walker said.
The union could go to its members for a strike mandate or the City could choose to lock them out, Walker said, if mediation fails.
Among the issues on the agenda is what the union calls “precarious work,” that which involves temporary or seasonal workers.
“We’re trying to secure permanent positions so folks can have some stability. Imagine trying to get a mortgage when you’re not a permanent employee, when you’re just on a temporary status.”
One worker on that temporary status is Todd Carter who has been a casual employee working 40 hours a week for 14 years.
He said he gets laid off this week – which happens twice a year – and he doesn’t get full-time benefits.
“And now my shift that I’ve always had for 40 hours for the past 14 years in the winter has been reduced to 32. I work for Parks in summer and winter and there’s very few full-time positions in Parks. They have a hard time keeping good employees because they don’t want offer full-time work,” added Carter.
Trying to get a mortgage, he said, is difficult when a bank sees a pay stub and it says permanent part-time.
“Precarious work,” said Carter who has to find a second job for the winter with his hours being cut.
Local 70 president Susan Gouw told the Herald “it’s taking too long. People are hurting after COVID and we’re getting nowhere.
The Herald reached out to the City for a statement late in the afternoon but due to the time of day one wasn’t available at press time.
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Review the City of Lethbridge disclosure list for 2024. Some absolutely amazing salaries listed. Average CUPE employee salary seems to be in the 30.00 plus an hour range. To the gentleman who has had a 14 year temporary job and is laid off twice every year, it seems there has been ample time to procure a second job during the layoff periods. Also when laid off there are EI benefits that have accrued. Parks salaries currently range from 27.03 and hour to 48.37 and hour.
As buckwheat mentioned I think everyone should have a look at this list. Perks include pensions, benefits, flexible spending accounts etc. Pretty great gig I’d say if you’re interested in any of these careers and get the job.
https://www.lethbridge.ca/media/ssrnyg1w/salary-disclosure-list.pdf
As if I’m being downvoted lol, so horrible to know what your city employees are paid.
Yes, check out the wages list on the link provided by rablah89. AND, make sure to look at the wages of the multitude of managers that are also in that document. Think maybe the city is over managed?
The city depends on the ranks of the seasonal employees. However, they seem to think it is at that level that budget cuts must start. Why? because if mid level managers aren’t cutting the budgets to the likes of the city manager they find themselves shown the door. Basically fighting to save their own skin. The city is not in great shape at all, despite what they tell you. The Mayor is terrified of a strike as it reflects the poor management and leadership,or lack of, that exists within the organization, doesn’t want to look bad in the eyes of the citizens of Lethbridge.