Editor:
I spent 24 years with the District of Sechelt, retiring five years ago. I was a non-unionized, union and exempt employee through this time. I saw staff grow from four full-time and three part-time to the numbers employed today, plus however many others on contract.
I was a part of many Sechelt changes from introducing computers, to new buildings, to financial stability through reserves, to the official community plan, DCCs and other policies, to developing Sechelt's golf course to instituting flex-time policies, and the list goes on.
The arena went to the Sunshine Coast Regional District and the sewer service came from the SCRD.
The shared Sechelt/Gibsons airport came to Sechelt alone. Highway 101 and Wharf Street intersection had a stop sign, not a traffic light way back when.
From an employee perspective, balancing the needs and whims of taxpayers, ever-changing councils, the newest management philosophies, demands from other levels of government and staffing and service changes is a monumental task. Working for a municipal government is not for the faint of heart. I've experienced cronyism and bullying, mediocre to disastrous decisions, and lack of leadership, but also scrupulous fairness, brilliant decisions and inspired leadership.
Today, after all that time and all those changes and all the successfully negotiated labour agreements, I see something new. The unionized staff at the District of Sechelt felt it necessary to withdraw their services for the first time ever. Those people walking the line are our neighbours, long-time residents and taxpayers of this community. They are not foolish people and did not make the decision on a whim. So we all have to ask ourselves, what is going on with this mostly inexperienced council and their mostly unknown management to force such a decision?
Carol Oslie, Sechelt
