December 14, 2006
Mr. Bruce Rivers
CEO, Community Living Toronto
20 Spadina Rd.
Toronto, ON M5R 2S7
Mr. Rivers,
On Wednesday, December 13, 2006, Human Resources Manager Gerry D’Amico confirmed for CUPE 2191, that Community Living Toronto (CLT) supervisory and management staff will receive a 10 per cent wage increase over the next two years. This substantive raise, is in addition to the 2 per cent yearly wage increase negotiated by our union for CUPE 2191 members, but that, is allocated to all CLT employees including supervisors and managers.
While we believe all workers merit fair wage increases, we are questioning the measure of fairness used to gauge a wage increase for a select group of CLT staff, at the exclusion and expense of all the others. The past practice at CLT has been that when the unionized members receive a wage increase, all employees of CLT receive a similar wage increase.
Clearly, providing a select and elite group of CLT staff a 12 per cent wage increase, while the majority get 2 per cent, severs the accepted past practice and merits much discussion.
The decision adversely affects front line staff morale, while further widening the divisions - both monetary and hierarchal - between unionized staff and management. A quick and not-so-subtle reminder, that the last round of collective bargaining, which almost resulted in a labour dispute, was particularly acrimonious. In our opinion, decisions, like a two-tier wage increase, that underscores the divisions will do little to heal the broken relationship since the last negotiations and much to augment the problems.
CUPE 2191 is now investigating potential avenues to remedy CLT’s inequitable approach to wage increases. Since the wage increase pre-empted a meaningful Job Evaluation process, we will explore a possible complaint under the Pay Equity Act. We will also be reviewing our files and the positions taken by the CLT administration on budget deficits and funding crises, and the need to keep bargaining unit members’ wages in check so that programs and services could be maintained. The provincial auditor may be interested in some of this information.
On behalf of the CUPE 2191 membership, I am requesting a copy of the board minutes where the 10 per cent wage increase was debated and approved and a meeting with you immediately to discuss the ramifications of such a decision.
Edgar Godoy,
CUPE Local 2191 President
Cc: CUPE Local 2191 Executive Board
Marilyne White, CUPE National Rep.
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications