Unionized workers at the city’s Water Pollution Control Authority have planned a Monday rally for 6 p.m. on the front steps of City Hall before the start of the regularly scheduled City Council meeting to protest new management potentially outsourcing plant operations.
“The WPCA and the City are happy to send our tax dollars to England–but they refuse to protect the quality of services provided by nearly 100 dedicated workers and to disclose the true impact that this will have on ratepayers,” according to a flyer urging protest support.
According to the unions, the contract of the current plant operator KGI expires as the end of this year. “Eager to select an English company (Severn Trent), the WPCA has refused to engage plant workers in any meaningful discussions about their future” according to the union website www.council4.org. “Call it what you want: privatization, outsourcing, outside contracting. I call it irresponsible,” said Dave Jensen, a plant maintainer and AFSCME Local 1303-459 member. “The treatment plants and the collection systems are a public asset paid for by our tax dollars.”
Jensen is scheduled to address the City Council at 6:30 p.m. prior to the full council meeting. Plant workers are represented by Council 4 Locals 1303-369 and 1303-459, Teamsters Local 145, IBEW Local 488 and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 777.
The WPCA oversees the city’s wastewater treatment system including user fees, collection system and two wastewater treatment facilities located in the East End and West End. WPCA workers come under the authority of the plant operator. The WPCA board approves the private-sector plant operator.
See full City Council agenda here.
Why would the Finch team do this? Maybe Bob Scinto knows?
*** The city sold out these workers a long time ago when they allowed WPCA to form and become independent from the city. The WPCA bills are too high and a means of putting liens on city property owners who already pay high water bills and property taxes, etc. The city could care less about the workers at the WPCA and would like to cut all ties if possible for a regional type water treatment plant that will serve four or five participating towns or cities to minimize the overall total expense. Your local union is weak and you will not get anything but empty promises and economy excuses from management and the city for the most part! *** GET YOURSELF AN EXPERIENCED LABOR LAWYER AND GOOD LUCK! ***