VANCOUVER—CUPE 15 has filed a BC Supreme Court challenge to a recent Vancouver Park Board attempt to convert union positions into management jobs.
The Vancouver Park Board replaced 15 bargaining unit positions with more expensive management positions at an in-camera meeting last month. CUPE maintains that the move violates several sections of the Vancouver City Charter.
CUPE 15 president Paul Faoro says “There is no valid reason why the Park Board had to make this decision behind closed doors and without any notice to employees or the public. Ramming a controversial decision like this through in secret and at the end of their term should raise concern. If the Court doesn’t overturn it, taxpayers could be on the hook for more than $250,000 dollars a year in additional salary and benefit costs.”
Faoro noted that funding for parks and recreation programs were cut by $346,000 this year and staff members were advised just a few weeks ago that the Board was restricting purchasing and overtime because of fears of a budget deficit.
Faoro has concerns about where the extra money would come from. “Will we see further cuts to community centres to pay for such a reckless move,” he asked, adding “It’s pretty clear we don’t need more managers; we need better services.”
“Vancouver citizens are finding out that their City Council and Park Board need constant scrutiny,” says Faoro. “We live in a democracy. We shouldn’t have to seek court orders to hold our elected representatives accountable.”
Contact: Paul Faoro, CUPE 15 president: 604.202.1829