City workers tell CHCH: “leave well enough alone”

A lot of city of Hamilton employees working in the cold today are having a rougher time than usual, now that allegations of theft and misconduct by at least 30 public works employees are being investigated by the city – and reportedly police too.

Neither police nor councillors will confirm or deny whether there is a criminal investigation ongoing; if there is, it’s being handled separately from the city investigation. CHCH News did see a police vehicle at the Rymal Road works yard today.

The city started surveillance on around 30 public works employees, including supervisors, back in November. there was enough evidence, including video, that they’ve all been suspended with pay pending the outcome. allegations range from workers selling city asphalt, to workers falsifying time sheets and taking city vehicles for personal use.

No facts have come before council yet but city workers are feeling the brunt of public anger. They were not happy CHCH News was taping at the yard; and one worker told CHCH News that a foreman was spit on today while trying to do his job.

“Why don’t you guys leave well enough alone and wait until you get the facts before you start putting it on the TV and Bill Kelly and all these other shows, and making us guys look like we’re a bunch of a–holes. We’re citizens. We pay taxes. I pay $4200 a year in taxes, (and) on my other two houses too.”

Councillor Lloyd Ferguson explains what led to the probe. “You get information and so you do an investigation. You have new managers and directors coming in, who have different ways of measuring productivity.

“I can tell you in the private sector, you knew how many tonnes a day an asphalt crew should do, and if they weren’t doing it, we would be out checking up on them. It’s that sort of checks and balances. GPS in all the trucks. We know where they are, and I’m very pleased that it’s our own management that found this and are investigating it.

“If it’s true. if you’re paying someone all in, $40 an hour, you expect a full day’s work for a full day’s pay. That’s probably going to be a key part of the investigation. I haven’t asked staff because I don’t want to know until it’s factually in front of me, but that’s what bothered me the most, if in fact they’re being paid 7-8 hours but working a fraction of that.”

Council is going to see the report in camera sometime this week and CHCH News has been told there will be a media release with all the details by Monday afternoon. Neither the union nor public works managers would comment today.

Video: Lisa Hepfner with the latest on the allegations and investigation.