Today, Winnipeg’s Executive Policy Committee (EPC) approved a motion to bring bulky waste collection back in-house.
The motion, which calls for city administration to undertake all things necessary to bring the collection of “bulky waste” into the Winnipeg Public Service, was passed by a vote of 4 – 3. The motion will still need approval by city council when they meet on December 14.
Voting in favour of the motion were Councillors Mayes, Gilroy, Orlikow, and Pagtakhan. Voting against the motion were Mayor Bowman, Councillors Morantz and Gillingham.
“We view today’s vote by EPC as a positive step forward in improving Winnipeg’s bulky waste collection services,” said Local 500 President Gord Delbridge. “As we’ve said many time before, contracting out of municipal services does not achieve savings, nor do they offer better quality service to the taxpayer.”
In October, Winnipeg City Council approved a recommendation that the Winnipeg Public Service enter into discussions with CUPE to explore whether the City could award future garbage and recycle collection at a cost comparable to private sector service provider. The City has five collection contracts expiring 2017 (bulky waste), 2018 to 2023 (bin collection).
“We’ve already been meeting with the City to discuss options for in-house bulky waste collection,” said Delbridge. “We have another meeting scheduled in the New Year, but in the meantime, I guess we’ll see what City Council decides and go from there.”
The Local will continue to update the membership as more information becomes available.
