SYDNEY, NS - The union representing CBRM (Cape Breton Regional Municipality) outside workers says the timing of Councillor Wes Stubbert’s remarks on contracting out of residential garbage collection and recycling is “highly suspect”.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) National Rep. Jacquie Bramwell says, “We are about to enter negotiations with this employer for the first time in five years, and to have a lone councillor making provocative, confrontational statements like this does not help the process one bit.
“Not only does he appear to be freelancing on council’s direction, but he doesn’t seem to understand that we have a collective agreement in place that protects this work for the members of Local 759,” adds Bramwell.
“The members of this local, who are very proud of the work they do and the quality of service they provide, should not have to wake up in the morning and hear this kind of nonsense from an elected official,” says Bramwell.
“We have been working very hard with this employer over the last year or so to build a positive working relationship. In fact, we have been arguing that the real solution to CBRM’s solid waste problems is to move from the current system of having both private and public collection, to contracting in all of the collection. Significant efficiencies could be achieved by doing this,” says Bramwell.
“CBRM outside workers – and I’m sure I speak for the municipality’s entire workforce when I say this – are particularly incensed by Councillor Stubbert’s suggestion that CBRM is ‘not an employment agency’. This is a person who clearly needs to think a bit more before he blabs into a microphone,” says Bramwell.
For information:
Jacquie Bramwell
CUPE national representative
(902) 539-4933 (o)
Allan Clarke
CUPE Local 759 president
(902) 578-5938 (cell)
John McCracken
CUPE communications
(902) 455-4180 (o)