Windsor looks to privatize parking enforcement

The City of Windsor is considering privatizing its parking enforcement, raising the ire of unionized workers currently doing the job.

City council debated the issue at its weekly meeting Monday evening, ending with a vote in favour of issuing a call for tenders.

"It's not about service," said Councillor Fulvio Valentinis. "It's can we provide that service at a lower cost?"

Parking enforcement costs the city $1.3 million a year.

A call for proposals earlier in the year garnered three submissions, none of which met the city's criteria.

Union says outsourcing won't save money

The union representing the 13 parking enforcement officers doubts hiring a private company will save taxpayers any money.

"For council to go further and lower the bar and contract out the exact same jobs at a reduced wage is, I think, something that Windsorites don't want to see," said Jean Fox, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 543 which represents the workers.

'I believe that you've got the best officers on the street right now, that are professionals, that know what they're doing.' Lisa Sajatovich, parking officer

Council's decision to issue the call for tenders was not unanimous, with councillors Ken Lewenza Jr. and Ron Jones voting against the proposal.

"We have employees here who, for the most part, have been long-serving," said Jones.

"Certainly, we have some issues in that area, but those areas have been addressed, and certainly Jean Fox talked about policing their own."

Workers averaged 36 sick daysa year

The parking enforcement division has seen chronic absenteeism in recent years, with employees taking an average of 36 days of "unplanned leave" in 2008, costing the city a total of $77, 206.

Lisa Sajatovich is one of the parking officers.

"I believe that you've got the best officers on the street right now, that are professionals, that know what they're doing," said Lisa Sajatovich, a parking enforcement officer.

The union said it would submit its own report once the tendering process is complete.

"We will do it with numbers. We will do it with costing. We will do the best job that we can in order to protect our members," said Fox.

Any officer who loses his or her job because of outsourcing would be entitled to bumping rights, forcing the city to find them alternate employment, according to a city report released in late 2009.

Windsor council is also considering contracting out garbage collection in the city.