NEW GLASGOW – A traditional unionized workplace environment will not work at Summer Street Industries, says its executive director.
Bob Bennett said Friday that in order to give clients of Summer Street Industries the respect and positive experiences they need to grow, the workplace needs a degree of flexibility when it comes to managing staff.
“This means in our work environment, you need a level of flexibility to enable us to work with people with special needs,” he said. “Maybe it is not as important in some other work environments. The cookie-cutter approach to what workplace rules should look like in a unionized environment just don’t work here.”
He said such issues as wage parity have been settled, with 22 unionized workers seeing an increase in their wages, but he said CUPE must realize telling management how to do job postings, new hires and work schedules in a unique environment like Summer Street Industries will not benefit the clients.
“Clients are foremost. We include our clients in who we hire. What would be the point of hiring people for work if they didn’t get along?” he said. “So for me to say, I’m sorry I was hired 30 minutes before you, I am working with that person… it can’t work. That is where the flexibility has to be. We strongly reject CUPE’s claim that this is about workplace democracy. We are not going to compromise respective treatment of our clients and not going to allow language in a contact that will enable that to happen.”
He said such negotiations may have worked for CUPE in the past, but he doubts the union has ever dealt with a unique work environment like Summer Street Industries.
“To their (CUPE) credit, it is probably based on a tried and proven process that has worked for them for a long time, but although they beg to differ, we are a different work environment.”
Summer Street Industries management and CUPE Local 2330 are heading back into mediation talks this coming week. Twenty-two Summer Street Industries employees will be in a strike position as of Wednesday if outstanding issues cannot be resolved during these talks.
CUPE local 2330 president Nan McFadgen said earlier that “workplace democracy” issues such as internal job postings, impartial governance in the arbitration process and equitable treatment between full-time and part-time staff still need to be addressed.
Bennett said he is hopeful a settlement can be reached, but if a strike does occur, management has been trained to take over certain services. He said it will be business as usual if companies and individuals want to access their services or rent their building during strike, but the threat is already costing them money.
“We are prepared and have taken the steps. The clients that will be in crisis without us during a labour stoppage we will provide services to,” he said.
“We have made preparations for everybody. I really hope it doesn’t come to a strike. Our businesses are open, but we are losing business. People are uncomfortable with labour disruptions. I can understand that.”
