Region of Queens offices. Photo: Evan Taylor.
The Region of Queens is set to permanently close its Materials Recovery Facility in Milton later this year, and the union representing many of its workers says it was blindsided by the announcement.
The facility, which handles recyclable materials for the region, will shut down on December 1.
The move comes after provincial changes shifted responsibility for recycling packaging and paper products onto producers through Circular Materials, a new organization overseeing the system across Nova Scotia.
While the municipality says residents will see no change in curbside collection or drop-off services, the closure means job losses at the site.
For the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1928, the way the decision was communicated is the biggest concern.
Business manager James Sponagle said the union learned of the closure from one of its members, not from municipal officials.
“The Region of Queens hasn’t reached out to the union to discuss the issue,” Sponagle said. “We were completely in the dark and only found out when one of our members called me.”
He estimated about eight unionized workers would be directly affected, though the municipality did not provide an exact number.
Sponagle described the lack of notice as “terrible” and said the situation highlights an ongoing strain in the relationship between the municipality and the union.
Earlier this year, nearly 40 Queens employees staged a week-long strike over wages and overtime benefits, and Sponagle said some of those issues remain unresolved.
He added that the union still has outstanding complaints before the labour board related to bargaining, which are scheduled to be heard in November. “It seems the employer has no desire to communicate or contact the union office,” he said.
The Region of Queens, in its release, said council supports the province’s shift to extended producer responsibility for recyclable waste but acknowledged the job losses are “an unfortunate consequence” of the change.
Chief Administrative Officer Willa Thorpe said the municipality is working with employees to help them transition, though details of what that support includes have not been provided.
Residents will continue to use the Queens Solid Waste Management Facility for landfill and drop-off services.
The closure affects only the sorting station.
I am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
