(File photo/CHATNewsToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

CUPE 46 calling for greater communication from Mayor and Council

Dec 15, 2020 | 6:32 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB- The union representing hundreds of city employees here in Medicine Hat , is calling on the city for more communication from Mayor and council when it comes to the cuts and layoffs that are on the horizon.

For weeks, the city has hinted at layoffs as part of their Financially Fit initiative.

At last council meeting, council approved slashing the upcoming budget by 14.8 million dollars through a number of avenues including facility closures, voluntary retirement packages, divisional realignment, and department restructuring.

But CUPE 46 president Sam Ferrier said the union has been kept out of the loop and no information has been provided to the union on the voluntary retirement packages, nor the number of layoffs from Mayor and Council.

“We are trying to do the best for our members, and they are all stressed out because of COVID-19 for one thing, and now they are stressed because they know layoffs are coming. I had one woman phone me in crying, she wasn’t crying for hours but she felt like she was going to get laid off, her husband hasn’t worked for a year because of COVID-19, and she just broke down in tears because of the stress,” Ferrier said.

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“ We need to know what is happening in advance and not just drop the ball on us, so we can prepare” added Ferrier.

In a statement, the City of Medicine Hat said while there has been an acknowledgment of staff impacts, the exact targets are not yet known.

“Analysis is currently underway to determine what further efficiencies can be found within the organization and the City is committed to sharing information with employees as the situation develops,” Colleen Graham, Director of Marketing and Communications said.

CUPE 46 currently represents approximately 650 members.