2 Saint John councillors say they were suspended for supporting striking workers
CBC
Two Saint John councillors have been suspended pending a Code of Conduct investigation.
On Tuesday night, councillors voted in favour of a motion to relieve Joanna Killen and Brent Harris of "all their council committee duties" and to rescind their appointments to various bodies pending the outcome of an investigation under the Code of Conduct bylaw.
Reacting to the move by the city, Killen and Harris said they were blindsided and will seek legal counsel.
"We had no idea that they were going to do that — or that they even could," Killen said in an interview Wednesday.
Harris said they aren't even sure what the "ambiguous" motion means. He said he assumes they're still councillors and can attend council meetings, but he's not even certain about that.
Nor has the city explicitly told them the reason behind the investigation, but both councillors believe it's because they have met personally with striking city workers and publicly stated that they support them.
On Monday, for example, Harris posted on social media, "I took time to attempt to hear both sides and I stand with labour."
Killen made similar online comments in support of the union's position.
Members of CUPE Local 486, which represents the city's inside workers, have been on strike since Sept. 12 after talks broke down over pay.
On Sunday, the union said members voted "overwhelmingly" to turn down the city's latest proposal. The union said the wages fell below inflation and the city's wage-escalation policy.
The union has been calling for higher wages that keep in line with the cost of living. But the city has said its offer is fair and follows a new policy to cap wages within its financial means.
Killen said she supports the union's wage demands.
"It's a two-thirds women union and they're the lowest paid in the city and there's a cost of living crisis," she said. "Like we're just taking all the facts in front of us and that's where my head was at.
"And yes, that was different from the rest of council. I agree. But that, to me is what happens when you're an elected official."
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