A mayoral candidate is being accused of putting false claims on the record about some of Winnipeg’s biggest unions.
Paula Havixbeck says union bosses that represent firefighters, police officers and city workers have their wages paid for by taxpayers.
Havixbeck says the union presidents’ near six-figure salaries are paid by the city, according to annual compensation documents.
But the unions say, while the executives do receive a pay cheque from taxpayers, the wages are fully reimbursed by the union under the collective bargaining agreements.
The United Firefighters Union put out this statement:
“As per Collective Agreement the United Firefighters of Winnipeg reimburses the City of Winnipeg for a replacement firefighter for President Alex Forrest when he is doing work as Union President. This is paid to the city annually.
"It is interesting how Ms. Havixbeck is now putting this issue forward after we endorsed her in the last election for councillor and she asked for our endorsement for Mayor just a few weeks ago."
Havixbeck denies she asked for the unions support in her run for Mayor.
The UFFW recently announced it’s backing frontrunner Judy Wasylycia-Leis.
