Letter to the Editor from Local 500 President, Mike Davidson - Winnipeg Free Press, December 16, 2013 Re: Mandatory Unpaid Leave
December 16, 2013 at 5:54 PM
It would seem that the chair of Winnipeg’s Finance Committee is growing increasingly out-of-touch with the needs of both the realities of operating a city, and representing the best interests of its citizens. Councillor Wyatt’s proposal to force city employees to take 3.5 days of unpaid leave is simply bad management. Rather than discussing options with the union that represents these workers, and rather than listening to department managers who insist that the City cannot afford to lose productivity, Wyatt continues to push his misguided and fiscally irresponsible agenda. In a climate where City Hall is responsible for millions of dollars in cost overruns and questionable business transactions, Wyatt is forcing city workers to bear the brunt of this mismanagement.
The reality is: Winnipeg has a hard-working and dedicated workforce who know and understand how to do their jobs, and where to find efficiencies. But when decision-makers choose to disregard both workers’ and management’s recommendations, it is the citizens who pay the price.
Mike Davidson
President of CUPE Local 500
