City workers union files grievance over handling of Invest MH plans

By COLLIN GALLANT on July 17, 2021.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

The union representing city workers, including at least one in the Invest Medicine Hat office, has filed a grievance over how the city is handling a process to contract out economic development, land sales and potentially more.

The head of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local No. 46, says he was not informed of the contracting out process, given enough time to provide a counter-proposal, or even enough information about what would be spun out.

“Our problem is the city didn’t publicly advertise this or include us in the process, which is contrary to the terms of our contract,” said Sam Ferrier, president of the union that represents about 750 inside, outside and transit workers.

This week, the News revealed that a “request for proposals” process was underway to find a private-sector contractor to take over the duties of Invest Medicine Hat.

Proposals from applicants – which could include a variety of other city services – are due Monday. A short-list evaluation would be complete in early August before a contract is signed for September.

Ferrier, who received notice of the RFP this month, says that timeline doesn’t give enough time to evaluate the implications or prepare a position.

The grievance was filed late Friday, and administrators were not available for comment.

The contract between the parties includes a common provision that allows the union to create a counter-proposal or offer concessions when contracting out would result in job losses.

The city administrators office has 10 days to respond to the grievance, which would lead to discussions between the two sides, and if no resolution is found, the issue could go to arbitration.

The objection may not be enough to halt the process, which has come under public scrutiny, said Ferrier, but his position is his union is due that information and the contract right to suggest alternatives.

“What’s being proposed isn’t clearly defined,” said Ferrier. “Until it (a proposal from a bidder) comes back we won’t know what all is involved and which of our members would be affected.”

Currently, one employee in the nine-person Invest office is a union member, with the remainder classified as managers or out-of-scope employees.

A presentation for bidders obtained by the News describes main functions currently done by the Invest office – namely economic attraction and since early 2020, land sales and portfolio – but potential contract winners could also suggest any number of “value add-on services.”

A list of examples includes but is specifically not limited to a contract operator handling intergovernmental relations, managing grants, operating the city’s parking authority, Indigenous relations and operating “defined venues for defined functions.”

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