Sources within Westlock County have told the Westlock News that as many as eight county employees have accepted a severance package.
It’s unclear what impact, if any, this will have on county operations, or how much money will have been paid out to the departing employees.
Westlock County CAO Peter Kelly did not respond to several requests for confirmation of how many employees took the offer, what would be the total cost to the municipality, or what plans there are to replace the employees who have left.
Reeve Bud Massey also declined to answer any questions about the matter when reached last Friday.
“I’d prefer to speak to Peter then I’ll call you back,” Massey said.
He could not be reached for further comment by a Jan. 11 deadline.
Lou Arab, a spokesperson for the Canadian Union of Public Employees which represents the county’s unionized workers, would not offer any specific details on what the severance package includes, except to say the county and union and agreed on the contents of the package.
“I can say we’ve come to a mutually agreeable settlement on a severance package, but I’m unable to comment further on the details,” he said last week.
Kelly had offered all county employees a severance package including three months pay on Sept. 26 with a deadline of Oct. 15. Following a complaint from CUPE that the county was violating the provincial Labour Relations Code by offering this severance without consulting the union, the offer was pulled.
The two parties met with a Labour Relations Board representative at a resolution conference in November, at which time the union agreed to withdraw its complaint — on certain terms.
Arab said one of those conditions is that the county publish what amounts to an apology that he said would likely be published publicly and also posted in the workplace.
“That would include an apology, a concession they violated the Labour Relations Code and a commitment to not do it again, and some kind of statement saying the county is looking forward to a positive working relationship with the union,” he said.
While the Westlock News could not confirm how many employees have accepted the offer, the county website shows as of Jan. 11 there are five vacancies in administrative positions including: taxation and assessment, payroll and accounting, transportation operations supervisor, environmental and community services director and recreation coordinator.
