A dinner hosted by Halifax Water for management and non-unionized staff who worked through the labour disruption, plus changes to the pension plan, is raising concern amongst the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Up to $10,000 in gifts were handed out during the dinner at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Dartmouth on Sept. 9.

James Campbell of Halifax Water says a buffet dinner was served in an effort to show its appreciation to non-unionized staff.

“It wasn't a party atmosphere,” he said. “It was just to get people together, the non-union staff together – 76 of them – and discuss how the reintegration process is going following the nine week strike.”

Campbell says alcohol was not provided, but could be brought in by staff members if they chose to.

Naomi Stewart with CUPE says when she asked Halifax Water about the event, they were told it wasn’t a dinner – it was a meeting.

“Unfortunately the water commission does things like this that keeps putting the divide there, and we are very disappointed in their actions,” said Steward.

Campbell says the dinner allowed them to receive feedback from the non-unionized staff.

“It was very stressful for them as well, so to help alleviate some of that stress, and to help, you know, get some feedback from them, we had this dinner,” said Campbell.

Halifax Water says the 76 employees who attended the event were also offered gifts ranging from $60-$80, equaling up to $6,000 total.

Including the $3,500, the final cost of the event came to $9,500.

“To try and put this in perspective, we have about $1 billion in assets, roughly $130 million in revenue, and we spend about $10,000 a year in employee relations, so it's hardly lavish,” said Campbell.

CUPE says the dinner is not the only issue. A union representative says since the return to work, Halifax Water has been changing job descriptions, taking away some duties and reassigning others.

“We have a utility to run and we're trying to run the utility in the best and most efficient way that we possibly can,” said Campbell.

Halifax Water says the gifts were offered through the utility’s employee recognition program.

Campbell says all employees are eligible if nominated.

“We have a big utility here to run and it's in everybody's best interest that the staff are motivated to do a good job,” he said.

The union says its members have been working hard to put the labour disruption behind them, but word of the dinner hasn’t helped.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.