ST. ALBERT, AB – A city councillor’s presentation about garbage pickup was needlessly and recklessly antagonistic toward city staff and their union.
CUPE representative David Graham said a presentation by Councillor Cam MacKay last week attacked city workers.
MacKay’s presentation in favour of privatized waste collection claimed St. Albert waste collectors are the highest paid in the province, when in reality they are among the middle and earn less than waste collectors next door in Edmonton.
“Councillor MacKay’s remarks were full of inaccuracies. CUPE will be making a presentation to council soon to address most of those,” said Graham. “However, Mr. MacKay went further - attacking staff and CUPE without reason – and in the interests of maintaining good staff relations – I ask him to stop.”
“CUPE wasn’t part of last year’s decision to bring waste collection in house – although we support it,” said Graham. “By trashing CUPE and our members in a public forum, he is trying to make us into a villain for his own political purposes.”
“Our members provide a high standard of service to the community, and we are proud to do so. I think city staff deserve a little better.”