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mum». “My. Aqua 29. "63-Ne 6 WHATS lll?Blllllltllllill?t GARBAGE Illlthl'llf All ABM"? In order to male tho contracting out of garbage collection appear vary attractive to taxpayers, contractors often tender very low quotations, in order to obtain a first contract, on which they expect to make little or no profit. Then, with ther-municipality relieved of its equipment and skilled personnel, the contractor has Surveys show that where sanitation standards are low, munici- palities are content with confrac} operations. Where sanitation standards are hi her, as in Etobicoke, municipalities must collect the garbage d,,",,,'2T. Contract service is a step backwards. 50"/, city. l. THE TREND IS TOWARDS MUNICIPAl OPERATIONS 2. STANDARDS OF SANITATION WILL BE COT The American Public Works Association has made a thorough analysis of contract garbage service and found that: 'Because of their direct responsibility to the people, muni- cipalities provide numerous extra services and exercise greater care in handling and loading refuse than often is expected or realized from contractors. The operators of collection businesses. as a rule, do as little as possible to improve community conditions, for, to them such extra services means decreased profits. As is natural under the circumstances, they bend every ettort to increase pro- duction speed by doing as little as possible and still remain within the contract requirements." _ This experience has recently been repeated in Ottawa where citizens' complaints regarding garbage collection increased by 50"/, when a private contractor took over the operation from the 1lllml (OllECT ION CONTRACTED OUT, m TOWN- SHIP Wlll lOSE CONTROL OVER COSTS. The Etobicoke Township Council has decided to con- tract out a portion of its garbage collection services to a private contractor on an experimental basis. Effective September 3rd, thirteen Township em- ployees will be discharged. They will be replaced by employees of the contractor, whose base of opera- tions is outside Metro Toronto. These employees will lose the rights and benefits that the Township previously agreed to through the Union-Township Labour Agreement. Since the contract between the Union and the Township states that the Township will recognize the Union as the Bargaining Agent of the employees of the Garbage Department, the Union states that the E. C. lASHER, President ETOBICOKE TOWNSHIP CIVIC EMPLOYEES, LOCAL I85, NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (CLC) SPACE DONATED BY METROPOLITAN TORONTO COUNCIL OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ASIDE FROM BEING ILLEGAL, THE UNION URGES THE TOWNSHIP COUNCIL TO REVERSE ITS DECISION AND RE- TAIN GARBAGE COLLECTION M A MUNICIPAL SERVICE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: Ge municipality af a disadvantage. He is virfually in a monopoly position with his garbage collection equipment When the time comes to renew the contract, the contractor is in a position to quote a much higher price and the municipality has little alternative but to accept it. In the long run, the refuse collection costs are much higher under these circumstances than if the municipality had managed its own operation from the beginning. Four years ago the Cify of Cornwall contracted ouf ifs garbage collection "to save money". Under the private contractor costs have increased by 43% in the four years. 4. COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS COSTS WILL RISE SHARPLY As a warning to businessmen, the Etobicoke Advertiser- Guardian stated on April 5th, I962: "A private firm, once established, could milk industrial Firms and retailers dry for waste removal. Etobicoke charges commercial firms for such removal, but at a nominal fee for excellent service, because the Township operation is a non-proRt organization. Just imagine what . a businessman can do with no competition and the clients at his mercy." Oftare's private contractor is today making a "killing" on extra tees for commercial collections for which the city previously had no charge. With a wide differential in wages between the Township's employees and the contractor's employees, it would appear likely 5. PRI"ATE CONTRACTORS CANNOT GUARANTEE SERVICE ' Inserted by The Union has stated that it will bring the Coun- cil's illegal action before a Board of Arbitration. Should the Board rule that the Council acted illegally (and the Union is sure that it has), it will mean that the Council will have wasted up to $130,000 of tax- payers' money for work not performed! The Union has requested the Township to retain garbage collection as a municipal operation. The Council refused. The Union further requested the Council to post- pone the commencement of contract garbage collec- tion until a Board of Arbitration could rule on the legality of its action. The Council again refused. action of the Township Council constitutes an illegal "Lock-Out" of its employees. that the confraclor's employees will have lo strike in order fo earn a decent wage. An interruption in garbage collection service is a real possibility. Last year in Moncton, N.8., a private garbage collector used such a strike of his employees fo squeeze a 527. increase in his fee from the City Council. The experience of other municipalities clearly indicates that a private contractor can only operate at a profit by providing an inferior service to the citizens or by substantially reducing the wages of the employees. Therefore, 'any saving to be made by the municipality is at the expense of the citizens on the one hand, and at the expense of the employees. on the other. In contracting out its garbage collection, the Township is, in effect, asking the employees of the contractor fo pay, fhrough lower wage rates, for any savings which may be passed on fo the far, payers. This is a very uniusf burden to inflict upon the employees of the contractor. Last year the Township Council decided to set up a Board of Control fo manage its affairs more efficiently. However, by con- tracting out garbage collection, the board is, in effect. staring that it is incapable of managing its operations itself. Confidence in the Board of Control, Council, and the whole Civic Administration, will be,shaHered by Who adopfion cl an inadequate sanitation system. CONTRACT OPERATIONS DEPRESS WAGE RATES AND WORKING CONDITIONS TOWNSHIP COUNCIL IS AVOIDING ITS RESPONSIBILITIES SAM THOMPSON, Vice-President