St. John’s city councillor Tom Davis voted against the ratification of a new collective agreement between St. John’s city council and CUPE Local 1289 which represents inside workers.
The new agreement calls for a 4 per cent wage increase this year, 2.5 per cent next year, 3.25 per cent the following year and 3.5 per cent in 2029.
Davis says while the city is not in a financial crisis, he acknowledges that many residents and businesses are.
“I really can’t in good conscience bake this over the next four years…ultimately employees deserve fairness, residents deserve affordability, businesses deserve a competitive environment and landlords need to be able to provide housing sustainably. So, for all those reasons I won’t be supporting it, but I do understand it’s a difficult choice for all of us.”
Deputy Mayor Ron Ellsworth says the collective agreement is comparable to those in place in other municipalities and is in line with efforts being made to maintain staffing.
He says the new agreement would allow the city to attract employees and keep positions that the city needs to grow and development. He says the city is competing with the province and country for skilled employees, and “I like the idea that we’re attracting some of the best people…to come to work with us to deliver for our taxpayers.”
Councillor Tom Davis (St. John’s City Council)
Council typically extends those same increases to management, executives and elected officials. That’s something Davis also took exception to.
“Applying a percentage increase is not necessarily maybe the best way to look at it,” argued Davis. “A 4 per cent increase on $80,000 is a $3,200 raise and 4 per cent on $200,000 is an $80,000 raise.”)
Council voted to defer the decision, but the vote was defeated 3-7, and the motion to ratify the agreement was carried 8-2.
