The City of Winnipeg's 2016 Operating and Capital Budgets were unanimously passed at the City’s Executive Policy Committee on March 15. The next step is for approval by City Council on March 22.
The Local has presented our views in opposition of the budget at the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works, and at Executive Policy Committee. Local 500 remains particularly concerned by the $20.9 million allocation for city wide vacancy management in the proposed budget. The city’s workforce simply cannot continue to absorb these levels of cutbacks, while still maintaining service levels to the public. CUPE Local 500 and WAPSO have been calling for an immediate end to vacancy management to ensure adequate staffing levels in city services.
The budget also calls for $11.1 million in “savings” including $2.7 million in innovation savings, but does not provide any details of what or where those savings will be achieved. This is but one way of hiding the fact that there will be more reductions, but officials have not decided yet where these cuts will be.
Local 500 will keep you updated as the budget process continues to City Council.
Winnipeggers deserve a budget that provides the necessary funding and resources to deliver the public services they value and depend on.
