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Relations between employees and management at the North Bay Mattawa Conservation Authority are so bad that employees are ready to resign in protest of an extremely toxic work environment.
In fact, the authority’s own human resources director, Mark Bremer, said it was the worst he had seen in more than 30 years working in the industry.
Bremer told BayToday that relations between employees and CAO Chithra Gowda were so bad that 80 per cent of the 28 employees were “actively looking” for another job.
“It’s so sad … this team shouldn’t have to put up with something like this.”
How bad? Bremer said two long-time loyal employees had been fired and legal action was being taken, with at least one of them on stress leave in what Bremer described as a “brutal dismissal”. Employees recently formed a union and the Labor Department is investigating the situation.
Bremer, who believed he would be fired by the board for his comments, said he had never experienced this level of mismanagement and that the organization had hit “rock bottom.”
He said the management style was “crazy” and “could be crazy”. Apparently, senior executives are depriving managers of critical tasks because management doesn’t trust employees to do their jobs properly. Bremer said employees should be empowered to do their best work possible.
“This is a great team, great people. You can’t be better than them, they are willing and determined to do their job. If anyone can understand they have to let them Do Work.
“This is a huge mistake, huge Wrong, I firmly believe that. We already know this organization has hit rock bottom… much lower than rock bottom. You can’t go anywhere. This is a tomb. So now it’s time to regroup and get out of hell. “
Bremer had been hired just six weeks ago, but it didn’t take long for him to realize he was entering an organization with serious employee management problems. He said this is the third warning he has given the board about the issues, but the board has yet to take any action to address the issues.
“About three weeks ago, I had shared privately with Board Chair Shelly Belanger that something was rotten. You really know, things have to change. I firmly believe that if that doesn’t change, then It’s not fair to them. Taxpayers pay the price for anyone’s incompetence or lack of leadership, lack of management skills and basically I would say lack of humanity.”
BayToday reached out to Board President Belanger to ask her what she thought of the situation, and she sounded surprised.
“This is news to me. I have no comment,” she responded.
It seemed like an odd response, given that employees were preparing to strike en masse, that the authority was under investigation by the Department of Labor, and that employees had recently joined a union, but Bellanger would not discuss it further.
We also contacted CAO Chithra Gowda, who told us she would try to arrange a meeting between herself, Belanger and BayToday to discuss the issue, but by late afternoon, nothing had happened.
What Human Resources Director Bremer wants to see is a return to peace in the workplace and for the board to take action to help rectify the situation.
“Employees are at a tipping point where basically they don’t even want to go back to work. I have a strong feeling that if no action is taken, they are all going to leave. If you know leadership, you know their style isn’t going to be anything like that.” Change, and leaders don’t change. I have a strong feeling you’re going to hear people walking.”
Therefore, Bremer hopes things can change for the good of the team. “And team means 28 people, not just the two of them.”
Bremer was a reluctant whistleblower who preferred to solve problems behind the scenes, but he felt a strong moral obligation to do the right thing. He felt the board did not demonstrate the same principles.
“Honestly, I expected to be crucified.”
The 12 members of the Conservation Authority’s Board of Directors are appointed by its 10 member cities:
- Papineau-Cameron Township- Shelley Belanger (Chairman)
- Matawan City Council – Michelle Lahaye (Vice Chair)
- North Bay City – Chris Mayne
- North Bay City – Mayor Peter Chirico
- North Bay City – Lana Mitchell
- Callender City – Grant McMartin
- Calvin City Council – Bill Morton
- East Ferris City Council – Steve Trahan
- Powassan City Council – Dave Britton
- Matawa Town – Lorenmic
- Bonfield Township – Steve Featherstone
- Chisholm Township- Nunzio Scarfone
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