Contentious contract talks heat up between Wellesley Township and its outside workers over controversial consultant

Five months after the Township of Wellesley's unionized outside workers voted unanimously in favour of authorizing strike action, there's still no deal and the union is now also accusing town council of being ''out of touch with reality.''

The accusation stems from who is seated across the negotiating table with the union alleging the township is attacking workers' rights while spending money on an outside consultant with known ''anti-vax and bigoted views.''

“We're concerned about the direction of council and the management team as to why they would hire such an individual that has a history of anti-vax and conspiracy theories around COVID-19, Islamophobia, anti-LGBTQ, it just speaks to the viewpoint and the direction that council and management want to go in,” said Chris Roth, President, CUPE Local 1542.

The consultant in question is Ken Godevenos, someone whose social media accounts according to the union are rife with conspiracy and hate.

“The concerns we have are just the skewed vision of reality and having such an individual on their negotiating team presents a very difficult position for anybody who wants to negotiate a fair deal in the world that we live in these days,” said Roth. “Equality is a big thing, we're in an unprecedented time with COVID and — it's real, so it makes it hard to negotiate with somebody that has unrealistic views on reality.”

The union, meantime, says it continues to be troubled by the extent of what the township is looking to strip away from its members.

“They're pretty well hitting every single article of the collective agreement with something that they want to take away from our members,” Roth said. “It's just ask after ask after ask to give away benefits that have been previously negotiated and have been negotiated fairly for 40-plus years.”

“I feel the management team, under the guidance of their consultant Ken, are looking to bust the union or really push our members down and hurt us.”

In a statement, the Township of Wellesley says it is committed to reaching a fair deal ''that adequately compensates employees and is fiscally responsible to the taxpayer.”

“Amendments to the collective agreement are being pursued that would ensure staff are available to carry out winter operations when required,” the statement reads. “Proposed changes would have a positive effect on public services by providing scheduled work hours that reflect the required maintenance standards.

The township also seems to be sticking by its outside consultant.

“As a consultant, Mr. Godevenos has exhibited only professional behaviour in attempts to reach a fair settlement,” the statement also reads. “All opinions expressed on Mr. Godevenos’ personal social media channels are his alone, and not a reflection of the municipality.”

While the township says the posts are “not a reflection” of the municipality, the township's statement does not go as far as to actually denounce them.