Sustainable Development Minister Rochelle Squires announced yesterday that the Manitoba government is eliminating 400 vehicles from its government fleet.
Squires claims that the cut will save approximately $2.3 million in operating costs and avoid up to 4,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.
The move could save money. However, MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky is worried that the savings will come at the employees’ expense.
“The announcement doesn’t say how the government will save. But we’re fearful that it will be by downloading the financial responsibility of operating a vehicle to deliver services on to the backs of workers,” says Gawronsky.
The Minister says that employees will be encouraged to reduce their travel to meetings and instead rely on video and conference calls whenever possible, but the Minister’s statement did not provide any details about whether the government will make any investments in video conferencing as a result of cutting its vehicle fleet.
“How
does the Minister know they will save 4,000 tonnes of emissions when employees
will still have to use a vehicle? The reason many of our members use a
government vehicle is because you can’t do things like a fire inspection via Skype. I have many questions to ask the Minister on
this decision and I will be requesting a meeting to talk about the
announcement,” said Gawronsky. “In the coming weeks and months, we’ll continue
to monitor this issue and find out from our members if they are once again
being asked to do more with less or being forced to pay out of their own pocket
to provide a public service.”