Paul Moloney
CITY HALL BUREAU
An agreement this summer that gave Toronto firefighters annual increases of 3 per cent or more starting this year shouldn't set the benchmark for upcoming talks with other unions, say some councillors.
Councillor Karen Stintz said yesterday that other contracts should "absolutely" be limited to cost-of-living raises and possibly be limited to two years, "until we can turn the city around and get it back on solid financial footing.''
The firefighters' deal, which runs until Dec. 1, 2009, was quietly agreed to in a closed-doors session June 20, then approved by the full council without discussion or a recorded vote.
It gives firefighters a 3 per cent hike in the first year and 3.25 per cent in the next two years.
That's well above inflation, said Councillor Cliff Jenkins, who voted against the contract as a member of the employee and labour relations committee. He said something closer to 2 per cent was reasonable "given the city's circumstances.''
"Here we are with a severe financial crisis. Everyone else is going to be asking for that as well. I would like to see our labour partners work with us on our financial difficulties, and be part of the solution in finding efficiencies,'' Jenkins said.
The firefighters' pact slipped under the radar in part because of a distracting controversy that day over whether to continue posting yellow-ribbon decals honouring Canadian Forces on fire trucks and ambulances.
Scott Marks, president of the firefighters' union local 3888, said the 2008 increase still leaves first-class firefighters about $70 a year behind their counterparts in Oakville.
The raises are in line with other municipalities, he said. "We need to keep our wages fair and equitable to others in the province.''
The Toronto police contract, meanwhile, expires Dec. 31; the pact with unionized TTC workers ends March 31.
Contracts involving outside employees, library workers and Toronto Community Housing expire Dec. 31, 2008. Brian Cochrane, president of CUPE local 416, says the union will "take into consideration'' the firefighters' agreement, as well as the economic climate.
Mayor David Miller told reporters the city didn't "have a lot of room to manoeuvre" in
If Comrade Miller got his head out of his ass he might be able to see the reality......
the contract, and expects "difficult issues in the negotiations" with police and TTC.
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