Arbitrator rules in favour of police officers in pension tussle with City of Winnipeg

A ruling by a provincial arbitrator has sided with the union representing Winnipeg police officers, leaving the city with a big penalty to pay and a gaping hole in its financial plans.

The provincial arbitrator awarded damagesof $40,000 to the Winnipeg Police Association and $400 to each member of the service.

The current roster of officers is more than1,400, meaning the city will pay out more than $560,000 in additionalpenalties for what arbitrator Michael Weriersaidtook into account"the stress placed on police officers who were considering their retirement options."

City council voted last December forchanges to the pension plan with the hope of saving approximately $12 million.

The city believed itwould save $5 million by equalizing contributions between itself and the membersover a five-year period andanother $5.5 million by altering early retirement provisions.

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The arbitrator saw things much differently from the legal opinion the city had when it chose to end negotiations with the union.

"In my view, the city breached its obligations under the agreement with respect to the pension plan and under the recognition clause in Article I of the agreement. The association was denied its rights under the agreement to bargain for its members on an extremely important benefit, their pension,"Werierwrote in his decision.

Winnipeg Police Association president Moe Sabourinsaid, in a message to officers, the WPAwas "thrilled with today's decision."

"We have said all along, the changes to our pension benefits imposed by Mayor Bowman and his inner circle on city council are a violation of our collective bargaining agreement and the arbitrator's ruling means they must be fully reversed."

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Coun.Kevin Klein, who is also chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, told CBC News mayor Brian Bowman "gambledand lost" on arbitrarily trying to change the police pension without more negotiation with the union.

"I know the service members were willing to do a little give and take, but when you don't have a plan and go all-in, I'm terrified," Klein said.

A spokesperson for the city reacted Friday evening with a brief statement.

"While we respect his decision on the matter, we are disappointed in the decision. We are reviewing the reasons outlined in the award and will be considering all options available to us,"

A brief statement from Bowman's office said "the mayor will take time to review the arbitrator's decision and in dialogue with the public service, consider all options available to the City of Winnipeg."

A releasefrom the WPAsays the union looks forward to working with the city and mayor Bowman on crime issues and hopes to restart negotiations on the pension issues, once the current health crisis is over.

"Once the pandemic threat has passed, we look forward to engaging in a constructive dialogue with the city and working within our established collective agreement process so both sides can deliver for the people of Winnipeg," the WPA said in its statement.