Expert to resolve firefighters-chief fightMARLENE BERGSMA
An outside labour expert will be hired to sort out the dispute between St. Catharines firefighters and their chief.
City councillors agreed Monday to a process that would see the city and the firefighters' union share the cost of a third-party facilitator to improve relations in the troubled department.
The facilitator will file a written report including recommendations for improvement, agreed councillors, unanimously approving a motion by Merritton Ward Coun. Jeff Burch.
Since August, firefighters have been complaining about Chief Tony Mintoff and measures he implemented to deal with absenteeism and overtime costs in his department. The firefighters have waged a publicity campaign, censured their chief, and packed the city council gallery on Monday nights in a silent protest. Last week, they made a presentation to council and asked for an outside facilitator, saying they were working in a poisoned environment.
Burch, who works as a labour negotiator, said troubles in the Niagara Falls fire department were solved several years ago through a similar process.
Burch had originally suggested the review not deal with operational issues, but after a 45-minute closed-door meeting, councillors emerged and expanded the scope of the review.
At Coun. Joe Kushner's suggestion, it was expanded to include "any operational issues that have resulted in poor labour-management relations."
Councillors also ordered both sides to immediately begin holding monthly labour-management meetings. Burch said the two sides have not met for more than a year.
There was some confusion about how much a third-party review would cost, with a memo from city administrator Bob Puhach suggesting $14,000, said Burch, while his own research revealed the Niagara Falls review cost less than $9,000.
"My position would be regardless of which (amount) is right, it is well worth the money," said Burch. "Arbitration can cost $5,000 and there are 26 outstanding grievances. This is well worth it."
Burch also said it wasn't necessary for council to go behind closed doors, saying "the public deserves to hear council take a leadership role in this issue."
But councillors voted 6-5 to go in camera. Coun. Andrew Gill declared a conflict of interest because he is a firefighter in Niagara Falls and his wife works for the St. Catharines fire department.
Mintoff said afterwards he welcomes the review.
"Management welcomes any opportunity to work in harmony with the firefighters' association to provide the most efficient, effective and safe service to our residents and visitors," he said in a written statement.
Burch said the union leadership has already told him they would be willing to step aside if that's what is recommended.
He said he expects both sides to meet quickly to set terms of reference and agree on possible mediators.
mbergsma@stcatharinesstandard.ca
ID- 372433
Source the St. Catharines Standard.
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