Editor:
The City of Toronto just signed a four-year collective agreement that granted workers no raise this year, followed by increases of 0.5 per cent, 1.75 per cent and 2.25 per cent in subsequent years.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) just signed an agreement with the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) Local 466 members for general wage increases of 1.25 per cent in 2012, 1.5 per cent in 2013, 1.75 per cent in 2014 and two per cent in 2015.
CEP Local 466 has 224 full-time, part-time and casual members.
What is the difference between the Toronto deal and the SCRD deal -aside from the head count issues? One demonstrates an understanding of fiscal sustainability and the other leaves one in doubt.
Bearing in mind the Vital Signs report and demographics on the Coast, harvesting pensioners and retirees for government salaries does not constitute a viable economic strategy for the Sunshine Coast.
Patrick Muncaster
Gibsons
