Manitoba’s largest labour union says GFL’s decision to move their headquarters from Toronto into the United States underscores the arguments they have been making that the contracting out of municipal services leads to tax dollars leaving Manitoba and Canada, and hurting our local economy.
“No surprise that the CEO that bought his last yacht with Winnipeg taxpayer dollars is now moving closer to US President Donald Trump,” says Gord Delbridge, President of CUPE 500. “These contracts need to be reviewed today.”
CUPE is calling on the city of Winnipeg to go through their procurement to ensure that work that is contracted out to American-owned firms is reviewed to see if in house work or local contracts can be used to keep Winnipeg services owned, operated and accountable to Winnipeg families.
This revelation comes on the heels of a Manitoba government exercise to adopt extended producer responsibility.
“What we have is a new opportunity in Manitoba,” said Delbridge. “An opportunity to ensure this work remains, or is made, publicly owned, unionized, and firmly Manitoban.”
CUPE has called on the Manitoba government to ensure that the work is given full project labour treatment with prevailing collective agreements respected and successor rights applied with in house public work where possible, and Manitoba contractors where it’s not reasonable.
“This government has stepped up to the plate for municipal services with increased funding, support for libraries and recreation,” says Delbridge. “It would be a shame to undermine workers across Manitoba now with a model that prioritizes American companies and punishes frontline workers.”