)
February 2013#4
./'
JOE Local 882MEDIA RELEASE
CITY WORKERS ARE TAXPAYERS TOOIUOEmembers are the latest victims of Williams LakeCity Council trying to solve its financialproblems by being greedy and dealing with people in an unprofessional and unfair way. Membersof the public are angry and are coming forward with first hand accounts of fiscal mismanagementby the City of Williams Lake.We are hearing stories about the Cariboo Regional District. Councilreneged on that deal after trying to squeeze more money for the fire protection agreement, and itbackfired. City Council now faces losing over $700,000.00 in valuable revenue because it 'pushedtoo far (sounds like a common theme when The City is involved in negotiations) . The CRDmaynow build its own fire hall. Now, the City in all its wisdom is trying to make up that money, plusthe money it haswasted on high-priced lawyers since it was elected on the backs of its ownworkers by demanding rollbacks and concessions at the bargaining table. In both cases,the Citytries to look like the reasonable party by demanding mediation. Mediation is for a stalemate overa few issues. It will not solve the problem of the City management team demanding concessionsbefore it considers Union proposals. Only fair and reasonable bargaining will achieve this.
Since being elected in 2011, Council has spent tens of thousands of dollars of your taxpayerdollars on high priced lawyers to force out the previous Chief Administrative Officer {and thenthousands of dollars more on a headhunter to find a new one), defend the City in court due to thefire protection issue, and to help the City in negotiations. This is taxpayers' money thrown awaydue to mismanagement and greed.
In a previous media release, the City said its employees are valuable and that their hard workshould be acknowledged. Cutting off workers'benefits and refusing to deal fairly is no way to showhow much the City values its workers. It tells workers they are less important than the almightydollar. It tells workers that the City does not care about them or their ability to feed and care fortheir families. It is vindictive and destructive .
. lUGE has offered a common sense approach, reasonable solutions to issues raised by themanagement bargaining team, only to be told "it's our way or nothing." That is not bargaining.This is bullying and intimidation.
"The Union refuses to be the scapegoat for Council's financial mismanagement. We are notresponsible for its problems, and our members are not the ones who should have to~payfor their
mismanagement. We are willing to negotiate a deal that works for everyone, but we willnot bebullied, and our members will not be the ones to pay for Council's bad decisions."
We urge all residents concerned that their elected officials are acting in an unprofessional andunfair manner to contact them. Tell them to direct management to bargain fairly with itsworkers.
Mayor Kerry Cook: (250) 398-7213 [email protected] Ivan Bonnell: [email protected]
Councillor Surinderpal Rathor: [email protected]
Councillor Danica Hughes: [email protected]
Councillor Sue Zacharias: [email protected]
Councillor laurie Walters: [email protected]
Councillor Geoff Bourdon: [email protected]
Adrian David, PresidentIUOE Local 882
Saundra Taylor, Business ManagerIUOE Local 882
Recommended
