Union: Mount Pearl Is Wasting Valuable Taxpayer Dollars By Awarding Snow Removal Contract

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MOUNT PEARL, Newfoundland and Labrador — The City of Mount Pearl has once again subcontracted municipal workers’ work to a private company, Farrell’s Excavating, wasting taxpayers’ money on snow removal equipment that may never be used.

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“After municipal workers went on strike two years ago, Mount Pearl contracted out part of the snow removal area, saying the contractors would support us in the event of a Snowmageddon-like event in 2020,” explained CUPE 2099 President Sherry Fitzpatrick, “but they were never used. The people of Mount Pearl spent their hard-earned tax money on a service that has never been done.”

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On October 30, 2024, the City of Mount Pearl awarded a $216,000 tender to Farrell’s Excavating. The offer is per use, so the price may go up or down depending on use, however, there is a $100,000 minimum bid, even if Farrell’s Excavating has never been used. Farrell’s Excavating had a previous contract with Mount Pearl for snow removal support that was awarded in November 2022 for $531,875.

“If there’s one thing everyone knows about Mount Pearl, it’s that it’s incredibly polished and the work is done by our municipal employees, not some private contractor,” said CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador President Sherry Hillier. “Even when we were buried by snow last year, those contractors were never called, so why are we giving another tender? It doesn’t make sense.”

“Councilman Jim Locke told reporters that he thought the municipal workers were doing a wonderful job,” continued Hillier, “so my question is why can’t that money be used to support public services that really need it?” Why not spend that $100,000 on creating good, lasting jobs for the people of Mount Pearl who can continue to do their wonderful work?”

“We’re here, and we’re not just doing a job, we’re doing a job best work. “If the council thinks we need help to ‘get the job done’ as they say, they should hire more city workers to help,” Fitzpatrick said. “There are public services that are struggling and need money. Why waste taxpayer money on a limited contract? That doesn’t give the workers, ours or theirs, or our city, stability, and they deserve that.”

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View the source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241129272699/en/

Contacts

For more information, please contact:
Sherry Fitzpatrick
President of CUPE 2099
[email protected]

Sherry Hillier
ICUPE Newfoundland and Labrador Presidency
(706) 765-2996

Taylor Johnston
CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative
[email protected]

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