Mercier fired from helm of OC Transpo
Posted Feb 23, 2012 05:34:34 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – Alain Mercier has been fired from his position as general manager of OC Transpo.
The city announced Wednesday Mercier will be replaced by Public Works General Manager John Manconi. Larry O’Keefe will become the interim general manager at Public Works.
The changes are effective immediately and city staff confirm Mercier is no longer with the city in any capacity and he received a severance package worth approximately $260,000. Mercier has worked for the City of Ottawa since 2000 and was appointed head of OC Transpo in January of 2007. Under his rule the company saw the longest strike in its history. It lasted 53 days in December 2008 through January 2009.
The removal of Mercier comes as a welcome surprise for the city’s Amalgamated Transit Union. President Gary Queale tells 1310News, Mercier was not the representative he needed to be.
“He had his ups and downs. I had several different meetings with him and, you know, I think he tried his best but there were times where we had asked for improvements and it just didn’t happen.”
Manconi has more than 20 years’ experience in municipal government and had been the general manager of Public Works since November of 2008.
Queale says the union looks forward to improving relations and morale among bus drivers and other OC-Transpo staff.
