Union executives are up in arms after they say the City of Winnipeg is attempting to train their members to act as replacement workers if CUPE 500 members initiate strike action.

Alex Forrest, President of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg (UFFW) said a firefighter was assigned to training in the 911 dispatch centre to act as a replacement in case CUPE members walk off the job.

But the city says this is nothing more than a communications error and said the firefighter in question was not being trained as a backup dispatcher and that UFFW members will not  be asked to backfill in a strike situation.

According to the city members form the Winnipeg Association of Public Service Officers (WAPSO) will backfill on a voluntary basis.

WAPSO on the other hand is fighting the city over the issue and is telling it’s members not to comply with requests from the city to act as replacements for striking workers.

The Canadian Union of Pubic Employees local 500 has been out of a contract since December of 2016. Negotiations have been contentious with both sides accusing each other of walking away from the process. 

CUPE is set to vote on the latest offer from the city on June 7 and the union says they do not believe the membership will agree with the terms of the proposed contract and turn it down. If that happens CUPE will be given a strike mandate from the membership and could be in the position to pull their services in a matter of days.

Both the city and the union said today that they are hoping for a negotiated settlement.

-News4 Staff-

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