'Do the right thing' and pay Winnipeggers back: Canadian Taxpayers Federation to firefighters union

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg and its president, Alex Forrest, to "do the right thing"and pay back about $70,000 the City of Winnipeg contributed towardthe union head's salary.

"It's not right," said Todd MacKay, prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. "The union is responsible for paying for its own leadership. That's not taxpayers' job. It's not their bill to pay."

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The city struck a deal with Forrest in January 2014 in which it agreed topromote him from lieutenant in the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service to captain, even though he was on leave from his job to work full-time for the firefighters union. In the letter of agreement, the city also committed to paying nearly two-thirds of Forrest'ssix-figure salary for as long as he remains president of the UFFW.

Other unions representing city employeeshave to reimburse taxpayers for the full amount of their presidents' salaries. TheUFFW only has to payback40 per cent. City officials said before 2014, the city was paying 100 per cent of Forrest's salary, and called the later deal an improvement.

"It'sinappropriate," said MacKay. "Who does this gentleman work for? Is he working for taxpayers or is he working for the union?"

MacKay said at the very least, this arrangement could appear to be a conflict of interest, especially since as a union president, Forrest has togo head-to-head with the city to negotiate collective agreements.

"For both taxpayers and for union members it needs to be very, very clear which side a negotiator is working for. When you've got a paycheque coming from both sides, it makes that pretty blurry," MacKaysaid.

Mayor won'tend agreement

Mayor Brian Bowman wasn't available for an interview but in a statement to CBC News, a spokesperson said the city plans to honour the agreement Forrest made with the previous administration.

"Historically, the City of Winnipeg was paying 100 per cent of Alex Forrest's salary and benefit costs with no reimbursement by the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW)," the statement said.

"Mayor Bowman recognizes the 2014 agreement represents a better deal for taxpayers and feels the agreement should be honoured as agreed to in good faith."

The mayor won't seekto end thedeal with Forrest when the UFFWcollective agreement expires Dec. 31, 2020, but will ask forgreater transparency in future negotiations.

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"He will berecommending that this issue be considered in an open and transparent way in the next round of collective bargaining," the statement said.

"The Taxpayer Federation isn't recognizing that there are also costs to unilaterally ending a contract entered into in good faith. That cannot be done at zero cost," the mayor's spokesperson said later.

"Mayor Bowman recognizes this, and is instead recommending that this matter be considered as part of the next round of collective bargaining, where it can be discussed and revisited in an open and transparent way instead of the nontransparent way it was agreed to in 2014 prior to him becoming mayor."

City Coun.Russ Wyatt, who was chairof the city'sfinance committee in 2014,told CBCon Monday that he did not know about the letter of agreement.

Union dues, not taxpayers,should fund the costs of the UFFW executive, including thepresident, he said.

The situation should be corrected as soon as possible, he said.

"The mayor should request in writing first, and if necessaryvia a motion at council, that the UFFWpay for their own president," he said. "If Alexis working as an active firefighter,then that should be paid by the city at that time.

"It seems to me that that would be fair."

Deal struck under former mayor Katz

Forrest and theUFFWendorsedformer Winnipeg mayor Sam Katz in his 2010 bid for re-election.

"Did this agreement have anything to do with the political relationship between Alex Forrest and Sam Katz? It's just a question in my mind," askedDavidCamfield, a University of Manitoba professor of labour studies.

Camfieldsaid union/employerrelationships aretypicallyadversarial, especially when it comes to negotiations.

He wondered if the deal had anything to do with the city's relationship with the UFFWleadership in the context of the amalgamation of the fire and paramedics departments, which happened in 2000.

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"Clearly there's a situation where there's been a lot of friction in that wing of the city's workforce," said Camfield.

'Is there value here?'

A Winnipeg labour lawyer whose client list includes the UFFW doesn't see a problem with the arrangement.

Garth Smorang, who was not involved in the agreement,said while it's not common for employers to pay a union president'ssalary, it's not unheard of.

"It's done. I have other union clients in Winnipeg where the union president is given full-time leave and the company pays 100 per cent of that, not just 60 per cent," said Smorang.

The real question iswhether there is value to paying for a union leader, he said.

"If it makes sense for business and if you accept the city should try and run in a business-like way, then why wouldn't it?"

Full statement from Mayor Brian Bowman:

"Historically, the City of Winnipeg was paying 100% of Alex Forrest's salary and benefit costs with no reimbursement by the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW). In March 2014, following an analysis by the Public Service of other bargaining units within the City, a Letter of Agreement was finalized that required the UFFW to reimburse the City of Winnipeg for 40%, rather than 0%, of salary and benefits paid to Mr. Forrest while serving as President.

"All of these decisions predated Mayor Bowman who was elected Mayor in October 2014. While Mayor Bowman recognizes the 2014 agreement represents a better deal for taxpayers and feels the agreement should be honoured as agreed to in good faith, he will be recommending that this issue be considered in an open and transparent way in the next round of collective bargaining.

"If you are wanting more details regarding the existing Letter of Agreement, please contact Corporate Communications who can speak to the administrative details of the agreement. As well, Councillor Russ Wyatt was the Chair of Finance in 2014 during the time this agreement was signed so he might be able to provide insight on what input he may have had."