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The City of Edmonton is introducing a new labour practice for its snow and ice management department that would see all workers put on shift work starting Oct. 15.

The new system, which the city brought forward to workers in June, will have rotating shifts of workers serve as the crew that clears city roads after snowfalls. Under the new system, even labourers who have worked their way up to having a consistent shift will have to return to shift work, something that the union that represents city snow-clearing workers is unhappy with.

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“One of the goals that people try to work towards and one of the purposes of long-term employment is getting yourself off of shift and onto a regular shift so that you could have more of a life,” said John Mervyn, president of CUPE Local 30.

The city says the main factor that plays into the decision to move labourers to shift work is getting better use of their equipment.