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Public Works
Department
Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Roads Arbitration

Historical Overview

Budget/Program Review (low productivity) raised
a red flag

Recycled Asphalt Program Concerns

Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Initially received an accusation of recycled

asphalt dumping and/or re-selling

Addressed this through referring to Hamilton
Police (no charges laid)
Preliminary investigation revealed a series of other
transgressions

January 28, 2013

29 (plus 1) Roads employees terminated

2 Roads employees suspended without pay

City Alleged
Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Inappropriate use of time(long breaks &

lunches)

Neglect of duties

Dishonesty at interviews

Falsification of timesheets

PPE not being worn (health/safety concern)

Roads Arbitration Sept. 13, 2013

Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Arbitration Award April 29, 2015

Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

6 terminations upheld
9 reinstatements *(no back-pay)
5 reinstated **(varying degrees of back-pay)
1 individual still being assessed by Arbitrator

* 9 reinstated employees received 27-month unpaid

suspensions
** 5 employees received between 1 15 month
unpaid suspensions
***All 14 reinstated employees subject to a 30 day
suspension on their record

What the Arbitrator said (pg. 253-256)

the city was justified in determining that the
combination of the large amount of time wasted on the
days in question and the dishonesty in the interviews
warranted termination.
.. Culture of low expectations that culture, which is
a failure of management, is the main factor in my
decision to give most grievors another chance
Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

there is nothing incompatible about the city

changing the culture and having most of these
grievors back at work.
it would send the wrong message to award back
pay in most cases.

Arbitration Costs:

56 days of Arbitration

Legal = $780,361

Arbitration = $97,905
Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Systemic Improvements

Supervisor training/mentoring

Turnover in both Supervisor and Superintendent
positions

Clearer expectations at all levels of Operations
Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Management tools have been expanded

Denison Survey

Cutting Edge of Leadership

Performance Accountability and Development

Productivity Improvements

Substantial increase in productivity by
approximately 23 %.

On average, for every $1 that was spent in 2012,
only 77 was spent in 2014 to accomplish the
same tasks.
Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Embedding the culture of continuous

improvement in the Operations Division.

Productivity Improvements
Activity

Unit

2012 Cost per

Accomplishment

2014 Cost per

Accomplishment

Tonne

$749*

$384**

Site

$198

$40

Sq. M.

$230

$208

Sidewalk Wheelchair Ramps

EA

$2,087

$610

Pothole Patching MMS

Site

$65

$39

Street Sweeping

LKM

$20

$20

Concrete all activities

Sidewalk levelling/grinding

Sidewalk Reconstruction

Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

10

*2011 vs 2013 data

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Next Steps

Reinstatement plan in development for

returning employees
Public Works
Roads Arbitration
GIC
May 6, 2015

Implementing strategy based on feedback

from the Denison Survey to improve
culture.