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Feb. 12, 2004. 11:42 AM
No 'Dalton Days,' unions warn
McGuinty calls for wage restraint
Public-sector l
RICHARD BRENNAN AND ROBERT BENZIE
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
Premier Dalton McGuinty wants teachers, nurses, doctors and civil servants to temper salary demands, raising the spectre of a wage freeze or even unpaid "Dalton Days."
The Liberal government was elected five months ago on promises of a new era of co-operation with the broader public service, but yesterday McGuinty said his cash-strapped administration cannot afford to hike wages.
Faced with a $5.6-billion deficit inherited from the previous Conservative government, the Premier said it's time for restraint in wage negotiations.
"To protect and improve public services, to protect existing jobs and add more jobs means that I'm asking our public-sector partners to be reasonable and responsible at the bargaining table," McGuinty said.
Union officials reacted swiftly, saying there is no way public-sector workers should have to shoulder responsibility for paying down the deficit, and promising "an absolute war" with the Liberals if that happens.
They said if the Liberals freeze or roll back wages it would be one of the biggest betrayals since NDP premier Bob Rae introduced in 1993 what became known as Rae Days — up to 12 days of unpaid leave a year for public-sector workers.
McGuinty said he wouldn't "define success with our first budget as meaning that all we've been able to do is to add to compensation packages for existing public-sector employees."
"We've got to do more than just increase wages," said McGuinty, before leaving Management Board Chair Gerry Phillips to field reporters' questions.
Phillips insisted nothing has yet been set in stone, but he did not rule out drastic measures. "I think our public-sector employees understand the severity of the problem and are anxious to be part of solution," he said.
"We will approach this with a complete open mind. ... We have to find a way to moderate wage demands."
Phillips noted salaries account for about 75 per cent of the money the province transfers to municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals, and represent about 80 per cent of the province's budget.
Union leaders reminded McGuinty yesterday that labour, particularly public-sector workers, helped get him elected.
"If (McGuinty) plans to make them the scapegoat, it would one of the biggest political betrayals that we've seen in a decade in the province of Ontario," said Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour.
Rae's NDP government drew up a "social contract" to shave $2 billion a year from the public payroll, but encountered massive opposition — including the ire of its former union allies — when it pushed its plan through.
Randy Robinson, an Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) spokesperson, said the government should raise taxes to meet fiscal demands, not go after public-sector workers.
"In the last 10 years, wages in the public service and the broader public service have actually gone down 10 per cent after inflation while the private sector has been going up. So if they want to find somebody to make a sacrifice, these are the last people who should be making the sacrifice," he said.
Robinson said the 42,000 OPSEU members who work for the province would not tolerate a repeat of Rae Days. OPSEU's last wage increase, in 2002, was 8.45 per cent over three years.
NDP MPP Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre) said McGuinty's plans could "backfire" just as the Rae government's did.
"His reliance upon Tony Blair and Blair-ite policies and the direct connection between those and some of the worst policies of Bob Rae are leading McGuinty down a path where what he's proposing is going to be as disastrous as Rae Days were," said Kormos.
"Look, the solution isn't to impose Dalton Days on public-sector workers here in the province of Ontario. Clearly, this government knows that if the Harris and Eves tax cuts are part of problem then rolling back some of those tax cuts at the very least for the highest income earners is part of the solution."
Conservative MPP John Baird (Nepean-Carleton) said the new approach is a betrayal to many of the people who supported the Liberals.
"All of a sudden it's earth-shattering news that public-sector workers expect a salary increase. What sort of world have (the Liberals) been living in? They are acting like it's a surprise that a nurse, a physician, a public servant would like a pay increase," he said.
Baird condemned the Liberals for refusing to release an independent analysis by finance ministry staff of the cost of the more than 230 Liberal campaign promises.
"My advice to them is that the coverup is going to look worse than the crime," he said.
Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario wing of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), said even the hint of a wage freeze or rollbacks opens up old wounds never healed from the NDP's "social contract."
"If he even dreams of Dalton McGuinty Days I remind him of what happened to the Rae government when they brought in Rae Days," Ryan said.
"What (the Liberals) are saying is unless the unions voluntarily temper their wage demands at the bargaining table that they will indeed move to wage freezes or McGuinty Days, and if that happens there will be an absolute war between labour unions ... and the Liberal government — no question in my mind about that."
CAW president Buzz Hargrove recalled how Rae used to say how much he respected the public service, "then thank you very much — Rae Days."
Rhonda Kimberley-Young, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), said public-sector workers, including teachers, have a right to expect "reasonable salary increases."
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Legal Notice: Copyright Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Distribution, transmission or republication of any material from www.thestar.com is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. For information please contact us using our webmaster form. www.thestar.com online since 1996.
               
Feb. 12, 2004. 11:42 AM
No 'Dalton Days,' unions warn
McGuinty calls for wage restraint
Public-sector l
RICHARD BRENNAN AND ROBERT BENZIE
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
Premier Dalton McGuinty wants teachers, nurses, doctors and civil servants to temper salary demands, raising the spectre of a wage freeze or even unpaid "Dalton Days."
The Liberal government was elected five months ago on promises of a new era of co-operation with the broader public service, but yesterday McGuinty said his cash-strapped administration cannot afford to hike wages.
Faced with a $5.6-billion deficit inherited from the previous Conservative government, the Premier said it's time for restraint in wage negotiations.
"To protect and improve public services, to protect existing jobs and add more jobs means that I'm asking our public-sector partners to be reasonable and responsible at the bargaining table," McGuinty said.
Union officials reacted swiftly, saying there is no way public-sector workers should have to shoulder responsibility for paying down the deficit, and promising "an absolute war" with the Liberals if that happens.
They said if the Liberals freeze or roll back wages it would be one of the biggest betrayals since NDP premier Bob Rae introduced in 1993 what became known as Rae Days — up to 12 days of unpaid leave a year for public-sector workers.
McGuinty said he wouldn't "define success with our first budget as meaning that all we've been able to do is to add to compensation packages for existing public-sector employees."
"We've got to do more than just increase wages," said McGuinty, before leaving Management Board Chair Gerry Phillips to field reporters' questions.
Phillips insisted nothing has yet been set in stone, but he did not rule out drastic measures. "I think our public-sector employees understand the severity of the problem and are anxious to be part of solution," he said.
"We will approach this with a complete open mind. ... We have to find a way to moderate wage demands."
Phillips noted salaries account for about 75 per cent of the money the province transfers to municipalities, universities, schools and hospitals, and represent about 80 per cent of the province's budget.
Union leaders reminded McGuinty yesterday that labour, particularly public-sector workers, helped get him elected.
"If (McGuinty) plans to make them the scapegoat, it would one of the biggest political betrayals that we've seen in a decade in the province of Ontario," said Wayne Samuelson, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour.
Rae's NDP government drew up a "social contract" to shave $2 billion a year from the public payroll, but encountered massive opposition — including the ire of its former union allies — when it pushed its plan through.
Randy Robinson, an Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) spokesperson, said the government should raise taxes to meet fiscal demands, not go after public-sector workers.
"In the last 10 years, wages in the public service and the broader public service have actually gone down 10 per cent after inflation while the private sector has been going up. So if they want to find somebody to make a sacrifice, these are the last people who should be making the sacrifice," he said.
Robinson said the 42,000 OPSEU members who work for the province would not tolerate a repeat of Rae Days. OPSEU's last wage increase, in 2002, was 8.45 per cent over three years.
NDP MPP Peter Kormos (Niagara Centre) said McGuinty's plans could "backfire" just as the Rae government's did.
"His reliance upon Tony Blair and Blair-ite policies and the direct connection between those and some of the worst policies of Bob Rae are leading McGuinty down a path where what he's proposing is going to be as disastrous as Rae Days were," said Kormos.
"Look, the solution isn't to impose Dalton Days on public-sector workers here in the province of Ontario. Clearly, this government knows that if the Harris and Eves tax cuts are part of problem then rolling back some of those tax cuts at the very least for the highest income earners is part of the solution."
Conservative MPP John Baird (Nepean-Carleton) said the new approach is a betrayal to many of the people who supported the Liberals.
"All of a sudden it's earth-shattering news that public-sector workers expect a salary increase. What sort of world have (the Liberals) been living in? They are acting like it's a surprise that a nurse, a physician, a public servant would like a pay increase," he said.
Baird condemned the Liberals for refusing to release an independent analysis by finance ministry staff of the cost of the more than 230 Liberal campaign promises.
"My advice to them is that the coverup is going to look worse than the crime," he said.
Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario wing of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), said even the hint of a wage freeze or rollbacks opens up old wounds never healed from the NDP's "social contract."
"If he even dreams of Dalton McGuinty Days I remind him of what happened to the Rae government when they brought in Rae Days," Ryan said.
"What (the Liberals) are saying is unless the unions voluntarily temper their wage demands at the bargaining table that they will indeed move to wage freezes or McGuinty Days, and if that happens there will be an absolute war between labour unions ... and the Liberal government — no question in my mind about that."
CAW president Buzz Hargrove recalled how Rae used to say how much he respected the public service, "then thank you very much — Rae Days."
Rhonda Kimberley-Young, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF), said public-sector workers, including teachers, have a right to expect "reasonable salary increases."
› Get 50% off home delivery of the Toronto Star.
FAQs| Site Map| Privacy Policy| Webmaster| Subscribe| My Subscription
Home| GTA| Business| Waymoresports| A&E| Life
Legal Notice: Copyright Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. Distribution, transmission or republication of any material from www.thestar.com is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. For information please contact us using our webmaster form. www.thestar.com online since 1996.