CITY CSO ARBITRATION – ‘We will review the options and work with the union’
(Image: Mel Rothenburger)
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following statement was released by the City of Kamloops today (Aug. 14, 2023) regarding the outcome of arbitration on the restructuring of the Community Services Officers department. It says the arbitrator acknowledges that changes were needed to address new challenges but disagrees with how the new structure was implemented.
With the release of the outcome regarding the arbitration of the Community Services Officers (CSO) restructuring, the arbitrator acknowledges that changes were needed to the department to address the challenges arising due to homelessness and the influx of citizens without resources.
The City of Kamloops continues to support our Community Service Officers with the training and resources they need to serve Kamloops residents. The restructuring of this division and the enhanced training provided to our CSOs is reflective of and responsive to the significant changes we’ve seen in our community and the increased requirements put on municipalities to respond to these changes, particularly as it relates to crime and social disorder.
This decision acknowledges the City’s right at law to restructure the department but disagrees with how the new structure was implemented. We will review the options provided and work with the union and individual employees on the path forward. We are grateful to put the arbitration behind us and continue serving the community.
Recently, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Public Safety have expressed a keen interest in the City of Kamloops’ approach and our desire to attain Peace Officer status for our Officers, which is also a step towards a tiered policing model. By taking this arbitration decision into consideration and working together to move forward, we hope to continue to provide an exceptional example of the efficacy of the CSO model.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Was it fairly recently, Councillor O’Reilly took a strip off the hide of Mayor Hamer-Jackson about upsetting the workplace? Was that story voiced on a local media outlet as well?
The outcome of the arbitration hearing has been delayed and now we can get a look at what the outcome will be.
Should the union have been more closely engaged when “someone” restructured bylaw services and a number of experienced bylaw officers had their lives turned upside down?
This might be a perfect opportunity for the Councillor to kind of weave things together into a larger, more “inclusive” tapestry. (Our next goal is apparently to be more inclusive……)
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Yes, because prior to the election, everyone was sitting around figuring out how we can be more inclusive. Inclusivity was the talk around dinner tables city wide. Entire evenings were dedicated to figuring out how things could be more inclusive. It was the #1 issue in all polls. I’m glad they’re finally getting around to addressing this pressing issue that everyone is talking about.
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Incompetence. Hubris. Ignorance. Rot. Malaise.
The only thing good coming out of Council and City Hall is PR spin and damage control.
A++ on that front.
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Just wondering how much this mess is costing us.
Also wondering when, if ever, the CSOs will ever truly serve the community at large.
Years go by and the ineffectiveness of this department remains constant.
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So in other words the city lost the arbitration? Hard to tell with the PR spin but it seems to say that even though the changes might be good, the city shouldn’t have arbitrarily implemented them without consulting the union. I’d welcome clear language on this
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The city…you mean Trawin & Co?
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So now what happens? Did any employee lose their jobs through this restructuring?
Interesting the city NOW wants to work with the union. What about working with the union before.
The city lost. The tax payer pays again
Cooper
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Apparently, Mr. Trawin was incorrect when he told CFJC in 2020, ”We obviously feel we’re within our rights to do what we need to do,” when the union initially complained that jobs were going to be lost/taken away without due process. Not so “obvious” now . . .
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The beginning of vindication for the 20 people who were fired due to this completely abusive behaviour by management. The union wasn’t disagreeable to the changes in responsibility only the implementation which the arbitrator has agreed with. Mean spirited management tried to circumvent the union’s contract and labour code to fire older experienced workers and replace them with younger naive workers has proven to be a disaster. Now the city will have to pay millions of $ in payouts for those previously fired without cause.
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Second that Mac…
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I heard that if the city was found liable (which it seems to have been?) then the cost to taxpayers would be around $2million for union costs and individual compensation. This isn’t counting the costs for the lengthy arbitration process.
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