Council approves pay hike for non-union workers
Posted July 13, 2012 1:25 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Toronto council continued its meeting for a third straight day Friday with debate on pay increases for non-unionized city workers and a proposal to post signs reminding people of the dangers of leaving kids and pets in parked cars, among other issues.
City council passed a motion Friday afternoon to give non-unionized municipal workers a pay hike that would put them more in line with unionized employees.
Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong said the move was a fair one.
“We have to remember, a number of years ago when the unions were receiving increases, the non-union workers received nothing and so this is averaging that out,” said Minnan-Wong.
The pay bump comes to less than two per cent a year for 2013 and 2014.
Minnan-Wong told 680News, the bonus feature has been changed.
“What we’ve done is said only a certain percentage of those individuals can get those bonuses. That means if you’ve identified only 20 per cent of your workers can get them, that person actually has to perform because they’re competing against their colleagues,” he explained.
Under the new structure only 20 per cent of the staff would be eligible for the maximum three-per cent pay bonus.
Coun. Gloria Lindsay Luby added an item to the already packed agenda, proposing the city ask retail store owners to post signs warning of the dangers of leaving kids and animals unattended in parked hot vehicles.
“In some jurisdictions parking lot owners have installed signs reminding people of the dangers of leaving children and pets in parked cars. We should consider asking parking lot owners in Toronto to do the same in an effort to avoid any further incidents in our city,” the motion states.
Several dogs have been left in cars in the GTA, including one that died at the Vaughan Mills mall while its owners shopped. The young couple was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
City council endorsed the motion 31-2 with Mayor Rob Ford and Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong voting against the move.
Click here for the agenda.
