Union to rally outside city hall over garbage contract

CORNWALL – The Canadian Union of Public Employees will rally outside city hall tonight (Monday) ahead of the regular council meeting.

Cornwall City Council is expected to review legal advice on its Request for Proposal (RFP) process it used to determine that Environmental 360 Solutions was the best proposal for the seven year garbage and recycling contract, even though its $154,000 more expensive than the existing contractor – HGC Management.

Council is also expected to award the contract tonight, which is supposed to start April 1.

The owner of HGC Management, Herb Lambacher, has said he will be forced to lay off over 30 full-time employees if the $24 million garbage and recycling contract is awarded to E360. Though E360 has said it will “give preference to local candidates.”

CUPE represents those existing workers at HGC.

The union says the city could have put job protection wording in the contract, according to CUPE spokesman Keith Sandford.

The rally starts at 5:30 p.m. outside 360 Pitt Street.