History has shown us that the black and white of extreme ideology – whether on the left or the right – is a nasty thing. I fear the City of Windsor is experiencing whiffs of these elements at the moment.
We have Mayor Eddie (Ronnie Reaguns) Francis and the Windsor Star on the right, and the doctrinaire descendents of Sid Ryan on the left. For Windsor to survive and be strong we need to find the middle ground.
With all the rhetoric raging on the outsourcing debate, it is sometimes difficult to find kernels of truth. Thanks to a simple but profound letter from a guy who calls himself a g-man, I discovered such a kernel last week.
Here is the email Mike Aubin sent City Councillors in the wake of the garbage collection outsourcing decision:
Hello Councilors, my name is Mike Aubin and I am currently working as a Refuse collector/Driver for the city of Windsor. I have been a refuse collector for almost 20 yrs, 11 with the city of Windsor and 9 for a private company. I just wanted to share with you how it felt when you decided to outsource my job. It literally felt like I was punched in the stomach, or sick to my stomach, I was sad, angry, and for the most part unappreciated. The morale has been very low at work, with all the uncertainty of where we will end up and who will be laid off. I understand that there is a possible savings by privatizing and you want to hold the line on taxes. But I feel my Department has worked very hard to save money for the city including this year’s reduction of 2 garbage trucks and 3 employees. This meant a heavier workload to myself and co workers. I am also confident we will continue to work with administration to keep costs down. It is a very physically demanding job and I feel we are paid well for this.
I have two family members that continue to work for the private refuse company, my father who is 65 and my uncle who is 60. They make nearly $9 less an hour then me, and workers who only pitch garbage make even less. They must work many hours and long days to receive a decent pay just to stay ahead. My job is not only physically demanding, but you work in all weather conditions such as hot, humid, cold, rainy and windy days, we encounter feces, unknown liquids, dead animals, rotten food, maggots, spiders, ants and the occasional rodent. We also encounter the general public, face to face with residents, joggers, bikers, children and fellow drivers on a daily basis. Last week I have encountered so many residents on my routes who are also angry and upset that we are going to be outsourced for a low bidding company from Toronto. I even received messages written on the trash disapproving of Council”s decision. I believe it is only a small majority who are happy with your decision, and possibly still upset over the strike. I admit our union made some mistakes and some members acted inappropriately and I apologize for there behaviour. We are human, and I believe from the amount of encouragement I received lately from the residents of Windsor, they believe us garbage men earn a fair wage and are willing to sacrifice to keep Windsor Public. I was always proud to say I was a garbage man for the city of Windsor, I love my job and I take pride in it. I applied almost 12 years ago to be a Refuse Collector and I intend to retire as one. I have no desire to go to Parks and Rec, being a garbage man for the city of Windsor gives me job satisfaction and is the pinnacle for me, this is what I have wanted to be since I was a young. Working for the City has changed my life. I can afford a mortgage, a vehicle, to travel and simply enjoy life knowing I am doing something I love. I will continue to be the best garbage man I can be until my job is gone. Please do not eliminate these jobs, this could be the pinnacle for someone else in the community who aspires to be a refuse collector, a recycler, a mechanic, a supervisor or a clerical staff for a great employer. By doing this you are even cutting out Windsor Mobile Wash who do a fantastic job power washing our trucks to make them look great in the public. Again I hope you reconsider your decision for the better of the City of Windsor.
Mike Aubin
The G-man reminds us that there are real people behind the numbers and the dollar signs. It is one message from the labour community that rings true, and it is one reason why I preferred to keep 50-percent of refuse collection in-house. The city is losing a lot of pride, heart and soul when it loses employees like Mike Aubin.
I will never forget why I was a supporter back in the early 1980s when the journalists at the Windsor Star formed a union. Management of this once paternal company dealt a bitter downsizing card. The layoffs and downgrading paid little regard to the seniority or the human factors and my wife at the time was caught in the fulcrum.
Now the Star’s opinion leaders find themselves in a cheerleading role as Windsor City Hall polarizes, and taking the right-wing’s hard-liner side.
As vice-chair of Council’s Small Business Advisory Panel, which will address Council Monday night, I am acutely aware that taxes need to be harnessed so the private sector can survive and thrive in the new economy, save and create jobs.
There are no easy solutions, but everyone needs to recognize that Windsor’s private and public sectors are all in this fight together.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Pal Gord Needs To Remove Blinders
My old canoeing partner Gord Henderson took a shot across the bow at me in Saturday’s Windsor Star. “Who would have thought that my old pal Alan Halberstadt, once a ferocious tax fighter and downsizer,” would oppose the 100-percent outsourcing of recycling and solid waste collection? he wrote.
These words appeared in yet another of his weekly genuflections to Mayor Eddie Francis. Gord is a sweet man, an old friend and a fine writer, but he has finally spurred me to ask the question: “Who would have thought that Gord Henderson, the once ferocious City Hall watchdog and fact-finder, would become such and unquestioning lapdog of the mayor of Windsor?”
Gord’s sweeping condemnation of anyone who dared to vote against the scorched earth outsourcing option lacks any kind of analysis or balance. I fear that City Councilors have also lost that balance because of a fear of getting pounded by the Windsor Star.
As for me, yes I opposed the 100-percent outsourcing option. It’s a position I have consistently held, and stated publicly, since the beginning the waste and recycling tendering process almost a year ago. I continue to believe that the city needs to retain a measure of control.
Those who watched the debate know that I favored the option to outsource 100 percent of recycling and 50 percent of the solid waste collection. This option would keep some of the collection in house, and retain half of the garbage truck fleet in case the city decides to go back into the business full-time a few years down the road.
It would provide a safeguard if Turtle Island, the Toronto contractor, doesn’t work out. In addition, the 50-percent option would cost the taxpayer less upfront since half the employees, 24 I am told, would be retained as collectors, and not all would be bumped into the parks department where they will be replacing part-time rink attendants and summers students at much higher wages until they retire.
In the end, after seven years, the 50-percent option would save $7.7 million, a significant savings to the taxpayer.
That is less than the $8.9-million savings estimated in the administration report, but it is based on the assumption of an annual 40-percent rolling retirement rate of the displaced waste collectors. Former Central Yard management guru Ron McConnell, for one, seriously doubts that assumption, which pegs transitional funding requirements at $7.648,600 to pay the higher salaries until attrition of some 46 workers fully kicks in.
McConnell believes that figure is greatly exaggerated. If the rolling retirement rate is instead 20 percent, for instance, the transitional funding could be $12 to $14 million and greatly diminish the business case.
As it is, the upfront, one-time transitional cost of the 50-percent option is estimated at $2,408,542 compared to the aforementioned $7,648,600.
Those who cared to read the entire administration report will know that the 50-percent solution was actually described as “appealing.” In discussing this option with finance staff prior to the July 12 meeting, I learned that operations managers prefer it to the take-no-prisoners option. For reporters and columnists who didn’t read the report, here is what administration said about the option I favoured:
The Hybrid model is similar to the one used in Winter Control and it has been successful there. Other municipalities have employed this model and have found it to be successful for the reasons noted below:
• Would maintain operational flexibility, i.e. number of yard-waste pick-ups could be easily changed, special clean-ups and events (e.g. floods, festivals).
• Able to respond quickly to changes in the Waste Diversion Act, i.e. possible legislated addition of an organics program.
• Could be considered the first step toward fully exiting the direct provision of the service if Council should decide to do so in the future.
• This would permit an easier transition from a partially contracted to a fully contracted model of service delivery through existing employee attrition over the next few years.
• More easily able to ramp back up to 100% waste and recycling collection services by city forces in the future if advantageous to the city due to dissatisfaction with the level of service provided by the contractor.
• Encourages competition between Union and Contractor with respect to efficiency, service level, service delivery, etc. (holds both parties accountable).
• Less disruption to the entire organization than the placement of displaced employees would cause with the 100 percent contracting-out option at this time.
Those who argue that the 100-percent option would not protect the public against a repeat of the 101-day garbage strike need to turn to Page 32 of the outsourcing contract. Clause 22.1 Strike Contingency Plan., states that one month prior to the commencement of service, the supplier must submit a strike contingency plan that will address alternative methods for the collection of waste so as to maintain the services in the event of a labour dispute.
For all those reasons, and one more, I believe the hybrid outsourcing model is the best option. The one further reason? That option might just reclaim a modicum of positive labour relations that no longer exist at City Hall.
These words appeared in yet another of his weekly genuflections to Mayor Eddie Francis. Gord is a sweet man, an old friend and a fine writer, but he has finally spurred me to ask the question: “Who would have thought that Gord Henderson, the once ferocious City Hall watchdog and fact-finder, would become such and unquestioning lapdog of the mayor of Windsor?”
Gord’s sweeping condemnation of anyone who dared to vote against the scorched earth outsourcing option lacks any kind of analysis or balance. I fear that City Councilors have also lost that balance because of a fear of getting pounded by the Windsor Star.
As for me, yes I opposed the 100-percent outsourcing option. It’s a position I have consistently held, and stated publicly, since the beginning the waste and recycling tendering process almost a year ago. I continue to believe that the city needs to retain a measure of control.
Those who watched the debate know that I favored the option to outsource 100 percent of recycling and 50 percent of the solid waste collection. This option would keep some of the collection in house, and retain half of the garbage truck fleet in case the city decides to go back into the business full-time a few years down the road.
It would provide a safeguard if Turtle Island, the Toronto contractor, doesn’t work out. In addition, the 50-percent option would cost the taxpayer less upfront since half the employees, 24 I am told, would be retained as collectors, and not all would be bumped into the parks department where they will be replacing part-time rink attendants and summers students at much higher wages until they retire.
In the end, after seven years, the 50-percent option would save $7.7 million, a significant savings to the taxpayer.
That is less than the $8.9-million savings estimated in the administration report, but it is based on the assumption of an annual 40-percent rolling retirement rate of the displaced waste collectors. Former Central Yard management guru Ron McConnell, for one, seriously doubts that assumption, which pegs transitional funding requirements at $7.648,600 to pay the higher salaries until attrition of some 46 workers fully kicks in.
McConnell believes that figure is greatly exaggerated. If the rolling retirement rate is instead 20 percent, for instance, the transitional funding could be $12 to $14 million and greatly diminish the business case.
As it is, the upfront, one-time transitional cost of the 50-percent option is estimated at $2,408,542 compared to the aforementioned $7,648,600.
Those who cared to read the entire administration report will know that the 50-percent solution was actually described as “appealing.” In discussing this option with finance staff prior to the July 12 meeting, I learned that operations managers prefer it to the take-no-prisoners option. For reporters and columnists who didn’t read the report, here is what administration said about the option I favoured:
The Hybrid model is similar to the one used in Winter Control and it has been successful there. Other municipalities have employed this model and have found it to be successful for the reasons noted below:
• Would maintain operational flexibility, i.e. number of yard-waste pick-ups could be easily changed, special clean-ups and events (e.g. floods, festivals).
• Able to respond quickly to changes in the Waste Diversion Act, i.e. possible legislated addition of an organics program.
• Could be considered the first step toward fully exiting the direct provision of the service if Council should decide to do so in the future.
• This would permit an easier transition from a partially contracted to a fully contracted model of service delivery through existing employee attrition over the next few years.
• More easily able to ramp back up to 100% waste and recycling collection services by city forces in the future if advantageous to the city due to dissatisfaction with the level of service provided by the contractor.
• Encourages competition between Union and Contractor with respect to efficiency, service level, service delivery, etc. (holds both parties accountable).
• Less disruption to the entire organization than the placement of displaced employees would cause with the 100 percent contracting-out option at this time.
Those who argue that the 100-percent option would not protect the public against a repeat of the 101-day garbage strike need to turn to Page 32 of the outsourcing contract. Clause 22.1 Strike Contingency Plan., states that one month prior to the commencement of service, the supplier must submit a strike contingency plan that will address alternative methods for the collection of waste so as to maintain the services in the event of a labour dispute.
For all those reasons, and one more, I believe the hybrid outsourcing model is the best option. The one further reason? That option might just reclaim a modicum of positive labour relations that no longer exist at City Hall.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Behind The Scenes With Lord Stanley
What a hoot!
Bridget Scheuerman, my wife Susan and I drove to Detroit Metro Airport with Royal Limousine Service owner Jason early Canada Day morning to pick up some real royalty – Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Maggie Durocher, executive director of the Windsor Parade Corporation, asked us to go fetch the cup. Stanley was travelling with Mike Bolt, one of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s four guys with white gloves who escort the most revered trophy in hockey around the world.
We met the 9:35 a.m. flight from Chicago to Detroit, snatched up Stanley and Mike, and sped down I-94 to the tunnel. After stopping for five minutes while the “beyond exhaustion” Mike picked up a case of Canadian and a blast of cologne at duty free, we arrived on the Windsor side to be greeted with a police motorcycle escort. Windsor’s finest turned on all the bells and whistles to lead us down Riverside Drive to the parade staging area at Devonshire and Assumption. We made it around 10:30, half an hour before the beginning of the first Canada Day Parade ever to traverse Wyandotte Street.
Joel Quenneville, coach of the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks, was already there, fielding media interviews. When the other Guest of Honour arrived, Joel and Stanley were engulfed by fans of all ages, wanting to touch the cup and take photos of Joel, Stanley, Adam Henrique of the two-time Memorial Cup champion Windsor Spitfires.
Of course, there were plenty of photos taken of Stanley and the Memorial Cup sitting side by side on the back of a convertible.
The parade went off without a hitch, culminated by a ceremony at Fred Thomas Park, behind The Barn, where Joel captained the Spitfires several decades ago. Somebody shouted -- “Joel Quenneville for Mayor.” Windsor’s real Mayor Eddie Francis soon presented him with the key to the city.
I had the opportunity to thank the parade corporation, Bridget who is the co-ordinator of the Wyandotte Towne Centre BIA and the Olde Walkerville BIA, sponsors of the event. Few people can appreciate the toil behind the scenes required to put on one of these.
I also thanked Quenneville for getting the Cup to Windsor on Canada Day. After I got his cell number from Spit coach Bob Bougner, and made the request to him two days after his Stanley Cup triumph, he worked behind the scenes with the stewards of the Cup to make it happen. As thrilled as we were to have him and the Cup here, Joel was equally elated.
Quenneville told CBC Ontario that he was thrilled to bring hockey's holy grail back to Windsor.
"We've got a perfect day today and I think we had a great celebration in Chicago, when we won the Cup for the first time in 49 years," Quenneville said.
"And getting back and seeing some familiar friends here - everybody's excited, everybody's excited about seeing the Cup, and that makes people do amazing things."
I also expressed a debt of gratitude from the stage on Thursday to Mike Bolt for granting this huge favour for Windsor and our native son. Bolt has been in the middle of mobs of adoring fans at multiple Chicago events. After our parade, he and Stanley were whisked to Windsor Airport by 1 p.m. for a flight to his home town of Toronto.
Mike handed the Cup over to another guy in white gloves, who was accompanying Stanley to waiting arms in Saskatchewan the same day. Mike, who has not spent a holiday with his family for years, was looking forward to chilling out with his Molson Canadian. What a welcome relief, he told us, from the watered down brew that passes for beer in the U.S.A.
Bridget Scheuerman, my wife Susan and I drove to Detroit Metro Airport with Royal Limousine Service owner Jason early Canada Day morning to pick up some real royalty – Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Maggie Durocher, executive director of the Windsor Parade Corporation, asked us to go fetch the cup. Stanley was travelling with Mike Bolt, one of the Hockey Hall of Fame’s four guys with white gloves who escort the most revered trophy in hockey around the world.
We met the 9:35 a.m. flight from Chicago to Detroit, snatched up Stanley and Mike, and sped down I-94 to the tunnel. After stopping for five minutes while the “beyond exhaustion” Mike picked up a case of Canadian and a blast of cologne at duty free, we arrived on the Windsor side to be greeted with a police motorcycle escort. Windsor’s finest turned on all the bells and whistles to lead us down Riverside Drive to the parade staging area at Devonshire and Assumption. We made it around 10:30, half an hour before the beginning of the first Canada Day Parade ever to traverse Wyandotte Street.
Photo by Jack Rosenberg/In Play! Magazine
Of course, there were plenty of photos taken of Stanley and the Memorial Cup sitting side by side on the back of a convertible.
The parade went off without a hitch, culminated by a ceremony at Fred Thomas Park, behind The Barn, where Joel captained the Spitfires several decades ago. Somebody shouted -- “Joel Quenneville for Mayor.” Windsor’s real Mayor Eddie Francis soon presented him with the key to the city.
I had the opportunity to thank the parade corporation, Bridget who is the co-ordinator of the Wyandotte Towne Centre BIA and the Olde Walkerville BIA, sponsors of the event. Few people can appreciate the toil behind the scenes required to put on one of these.
I also thanked Quenneville for getting the Cup to Windsor on Canada Day. After I got his cell number from Spit coach Bob Bougner, and made the request to him two days after his Stanley Cup triumph, he worked behind the scenes with the stewards of the Cup to make it happen. As thrilled as we were to have him and the Cup here, Joel was equally elated.
Quenneville told CBC Ontario that he was thrilled to bring hockey's holy grail back to Windsor.
"We've got a perfect day today and I think we had a great celebration in Chicago, when we won the Cup for the first time in 49 years," Quenneville said.
"And getting back and seeing some familiar friends here - everybody's excited, everybody's excited about seeing the Cup, and that makes people do amazing things."
I also expressed a debt of gratitude from the stage on Thursday to Mike Bolt for granting this huge favour for Windsor and our native son. Bolt has been in the middle of mobs of adoring fans at multiple Chicago events. After our parade, he and Stanley were whisked to Windsor Airport by 1 p.m. for a flight to his home town of Toronto.
Mike handed the Cup over to another guy in white gloves, who was accompanying Stanley to waiting arms in Saskatchewan the same day. Mike, who has not spent a holiday with his family for years, was looking forward to chilling out with his Molson Canadian. What a welcome relief, he told us, from the watered down brew that passes for beer in the U.S.A.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
