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Mayor Fortin not releasing details of new civic workers wage agreements; unions say it's up to the Mayor to disclose details to public


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#1 Mike K.

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Posted 15 November 2011 - 11:04 AM

We received a press release from Paul Brown on silence from City Hall about a new civic workers wage agreement. Apparently it is up to the mayor to disclose the new agreement.

PAUL BROWN REVEALS NEW 3-YEAR CIVIC WORKERS AGREEMENT SIGNED OCTOBER 17; WHY NO ANNOUNCEMENT FROM MAYOR FORTIN?

Victoria Mayoral candidate Paul Brown today publicly challenged Mayor Dean Fortin to explain why he has been withholding details of the new civic workers agreement at City Hall, even though it was signed three and a half weeks ago.

"CUPE itself announced that a tentative agreement had been reached with the Greater Victoria Labour Relations Board on Oct 13 (see link below) ," said Brown, "and I have confirmed the contract was ratified by the union on Oct. 17. Why hasn't the City of Victoria made this deal public yet?"

"I contacted the GVLRA and confirmed that it is up to the Mayor of Victoria to make the announcement on behalf of the City." said Brown. "The mayor sits on the GVLRA board; but so far he has said nothing about it."

"This is another glaring example of the secrecy and manipulation of key public information by this city administration," said Brown. "Could it be the Mayor is simply trying to hide the new wage agreement until after the election? If so, that would be a disgraceful misuse of vital public information."

Brown said the new contract gives civic workers in Victoria a 6% wage increase over the next three years. The previous agreement, which expired Dec. 31, 2010, raised union wages 12% over four years.

"I want to make it clear I have no complaint with the civic workers getting a new wage agreement that matches inflation," said Brown. "The real problem has been the outrageous increase in senior management salaries over the past three years. Those increases have consistently been in the double-digit range--from 25% to as much as 54%--far more than civic workers received during the same period."

NOTE TO MEDIA:

Brown made the details public during a radio debate on CFAX today. A recording of that debate is available on the CFAX website: http://www.cfax1070.com/


Key examples of senior management salary increases can be found on the Open Victoria website at: http://openvictoria....ouncil-qa/#QDAY


Key links to CUPE agreement details:

2007 agreement, 3% per year for four years, expired December 31, 2010:
http://50.cupe.ca/Co...m#_Toc189543776


CUPE confirms reaching deal with City, October 13, 2011:
http://cupe.ca/commu...l-workers-reach



Paul Brown is available to comment: (250) 727-8798

www.paulforvictoria.ca

www.openvictoria.ca


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#2 Hotel Mike

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Posted 15 November 2011 - 11:30 AM

Paul Brown raises some good points about bloated salaries at the City of Victoria. But it doesn't help his argument, when he too manipulates information to make his point. There are some problems on the Open Victoria web site on this issue.

Director of Sustainability is not a new management position...a new person filled the roll vacated by Kim Fowler. The position may or may not be necessary, but get it right. First hire for that position was 2009. And I believe Kathleen Josephson was on maternity leave part of 2007, so the comparisons of salary numbers are pretty flimsy. Again, should she be making that kind of money may be a valid question, but don't twist figures. Otherwise, what are you running for? Are you not doing just what you're accusing Fortin and others of doing?

I actually want to vote for you, Paul. You're not making it easy.

#3 Mike K.

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Posted 15 November 2011 - 11:47 AM

Hotel Mike, can you clarify how Katie Josephson's maternity leave in 2007 plays into salary increases for management positions since 2008?

I'm just not making the connection.

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#4 Ms. B. Havin

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Posted 15 November 2011 - 12:32 PM

Yeah, I was wondering about that, too.
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#5 Ms. B. Havin

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Posted 15 November 2011 - 01:25 PM

According to public bodies report for 2008, Josephson salary was $98,086.35, plus $630 expenses. In 2010, she made $143,273.26. Quite a hike, by any measure.

PS: I don't see how any sort of maternity leave is supposed to factor into these 2007 to 2010 figures.
When you buy a game, you buy the rules. Play happens in the space between the rules.

 



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