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City conduct code in conflict

By Alli Vail
May 9^th, 2008

The Canadian Union of Public Employees refused to comment on a proposed City of Parksville employee code of conduct, after writing the city and suggesting portions of the code breach the Charter of Human Rights and privacy acts.

A representative from the CUPE in the Lower Mainland said Local 401, representing Parksville city employees, did not want to comment to the media because it wants to keep the matter internal.

A letter dated Sept. 7, 2007 from Rodger Oakley, the local president at the time, said section five of the proposed code may breach the Charter of Human Rights.

Section five said people who are members of the same family or share a household would have to disclose their relationships. The code stated members of the immediate family or who share a home with someone from the city's management team would not be hired to work for the city.

The letter stated section 11, which related to illegal conduct, violated human rights. The section said employees who committed criminal acts while employed, on duty and on city property - or off duty and on city property - would be subject to discipline and termination.

The union's letter also said many of the items included in the code of conduct already are considered the "norm"or were dealt with in the collective agreement.

Thirty-eight people signed a paper stating they disagree with the proposed code.

City staff revised the code of conduct after receiving the letter. The revised code is shorter and cuts out sections relating to integrity, impartiality, property security, abusing or threatening members of the public and dealing with relatives. The revised code, however, retained some the language found in sections five and 11 of the original code.

The union was still not supportive of the revised code.

Staff, at the April 21, 2008 council meeting, recommended the code of conduct be approved.

Manson said the union felt a code of conduct is unreasonable and unwarranted.

"They will not approve of a code of conduct,"he said.

However, he said council should hear what the union has to say.

Mayor Sandy Herle said she knows Manson has spent a long time on the code, adding it is hard to believe the CAO is restricting personal freedoms and human rights.

Councillor Barry Johnston said based on the union's letter, he would not support the code of conduct. Council decided to have union representatives present their specific concerns with the code of conduct in three weeks.

"It should be sooner than later,"Coun. Sue Powell said. "That's pretty strong language."

The CUPE local was invited to present at an upcoming council meeting, but declined the invitation.

Council will vote on the code of conduct at Monday's meeting.




Original Source:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/parksville_qualicumbeachnews/news/18786684.html