Scott Gillingham today welcomed the endorsement of CUPE Local 500, Winnipeg’s largest municipal union, representing thousands of employees who deliver essential public services across the city.
The endorsement recognizes Gillingham’s record of investing in frontline city services, introducing new programs to meet the needs of a growing city, and building a productive working relationship with municipal employees over the past four years.
“There are mayoral candidates like Klein and Vogiatzakis who are out there promising to slash our public services at a time when our city has been making real progress,” said Patrick Troughton, President of CUPE Local 500. “These guys are more interested in explosive rhetoric than actually coming up with solutions.”
“Scott Gillingham is balanced, fair, and genuinely concerned for the welfare of our city.”
Since taking office in 2022, Gillingham has made significant investments in city services delivered by CUPE members, including:
Libraries: Expanding weekly operating hours by 12%, giving families, students and seniors better access to neighbourhood branches.
Neighbourhood Action Teams: Creating new teams to respond quickly to graffiti, potholes, debris and other neighbourhood maintenance issues, with staffing expanding from an initial 16 positions to a budgeted 45.
Community Safety Officers: Launching a new approach to public safety, with officers helping improve safety downtown, on Winnipeg Transit and in public spaces.
Parks and urban forestry: Increasing urban forestry staffing by 38%, doubling annual tree pruning and expanding tree planting.
311: Increasing frontline staffing and reducing average call wait times by almost 90% since 2022.
Troughton, who previously worked as a member of a Neighbourhood Action Team, highlighted the program’s direct impact on Winnipeg communities.
“I myself worked as a member of the Neighbourhood Action Team, and I can confidently say that this program has made a real impact in our neighbourhoods,” said Troughton. “These teams are a fulfillment of his last election promise, and he has announced even more teams so all our communities can count on quick service.”
Gillingham has also committed to establishing a Winnipeg Community Crisis Response Service, creating a new emergency response pathway to connect people experiencing mental health and other appropriate crises with trained community-based responders.
The initiative builds on the Community Safety Officer program and reflects a shared interest between Gillingham and CUPE in developing new approaches to complex public safety challenges.
“Winnipeg hasn’t seen a Mayor this dedicated to strengthening core city services, or launching innovative public programs on safety in three decades,” said Troughton.
Gillingham thanked CUPE members for their support and emphasized the importance of working constructively with the people who deliver city services.
“CUPE members are the people who keep Winnipeg running,” said Gillingham. “They keep our libraries open, maintain our parks, help residents through 311 and make our communities safer. I'm proud of what we've accomplished together over the past four years, and I'm honoured to have their support.”
“CUPE and I won't agree on every issue, but we've built a relationship based on mutual respect, honest conversations and a shared commitment to getting things done,” Gillingham added. “Strong city services depend on the people who deliver them. I want to keep investing in those services, supporting our frontline employees and building a stronger Winnipeg.”
Troughton said CUPE Local 500 looks forward to continuing its productive relationship with Gillingham.
“CUPE 500 proudly stands with Scott Gillingham, and we look forward to our continued positive relationship with the Mayor.”