City manager clarifies positions in negotiations
The city is clarifying its position on negotiations with its unions.
The city is clarifying its position on negotiations with its unions.
Early this afternoon, the city brought forward several points on information about its proposals.
City manager Linda Rapp noted – that contrary to information provided to the public by the union – the city’s latest offer to Local Y022 representing transit workers and Local Y023 representing most other city staffers (with the exception of the fire department) would see only those who quit their jobs not eligible for severance pay.
Those retiring or laid off would remain eligible for severance pay, Rapp told the Star.
Long service awards would also continue for anyone hired prior to ratification of the proposed deal. They would continue for anyone hired by the city in any position prior to ratification, Rapp said.
She also noted the union has not put forward any counter offers to the city’s proposals around severance and long service awards.
A previous social media post by the union argued the city had not proposed any pay increase for six years for any transit drivers with fewer than four years service.
Rapp said the city’s latest proposal includes wage increases for each year of the proposed four-year deal for all transit employees.
The city and its unions are entering mediation talks today that are slated to continue until Friday.
The unions have voted in favour of job action and could be in a position to strike by Saturday (provided they give 72 hours’ notice).
Union officials, however, say there are no immediate plans for job action and they’re hopeful a deal can be reached this week.
Comments (11)
Up 0 Down 0
Al on Apr 14, 2018 at 9:06 pm
We do have or should have some concern with current City Management and Council. Council Members are given an increase for the next term now are clawing benefits of the workers. That is dumb but when you look at what we have elected we can only blame the electorate. During the next election those on council today are those not to vote for, Mayor included.
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on Mar 19, 2018 at 4:49 pm
Not going joe...gone, and gone to ...
Now with stellar management, we can just speed up the trip around the bowl and into the pipes.
As I stated, up here you get awarded for poor performance.
The most recent “appointment” of said management clearly illustrates this so.
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on Mar 18, 2018 at 8:51 am
Hey joe, where you say? Well joe our community has been circling the bowl awhile now, as a direct result of political pandering, the PC Crusaders, the Marxist policy of identity politics, absolutely eeeeeepppic entitlement overdose, saturation of beta in our hall, cronyism....etc!
To not oppose those tactics of undermining our freedoms and individuality, truly is enabling it in my estimation.
Ol’ Josey here as ya might sleuth, is far past sick of it and fight like a rabid dog the zealots that perpetuate the absolute lunacy!
Engineered lunacy, thought regular for power hungry fools, narcissists,
racists and their elites...we know as liberal ideology and their kin at the National Destruction Party.
Mind you not much separates team commie red and commie orange these days.
Yes the civic back patting ceremonies must cease, so too must our mayor, his team of outta touch nobles...and a heeeeaaaap of top level chairwarmers.
Up 1 Down 0
jason on Mar 17, 2018 at 4:48 pm
@nile yukon. Private sector workers are far and away more well-paid then government workers. If you took an equivalent professional position (engineer for example) you would make at least 10% more to start. The private sector ceiling is almost limitless as well if you are good enough.
Check out the city's collective agreement - most City workers are paid between 60k to 80k + benefits which I think is fairly reasonable. These are also people with professional degrees and marketable skills, not just labourers or the like. Only a handful of union people make close to 100k.
The managers of the City on the other hand, ask for the salary stats on those folks. Generally speaking, every manager makes well above $125k + better benefits then union employees.
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on Mar 15, 2018 at 10:23 pm
Folks a wee side bar, related but abstract.
Given all the goings on in our country and territory, most definitely our stellar civic gang, all the engineered polarization amongst all our fellow countrymen....yes I typed that, the absolute fetish with race omnipresent, crime and or justice, our empire being systematically deconstructed....
And the pressure to speak out whilst we can?
Our Whitehorse Star moderation must be theee busiest employee or employees, and the hardest working this town has.
With our civic strike looming, moderation may have to bring in some TFW just to keep up. Certain there are more as I that help fill that cyber trash can, requiring many purges daily?
Despite my often frustration, my epic rants that are never read, the edits...it is your forum after all. I do seriously thank you for your efforts.
Time spent moderating cost money and time ...I get that.
So folks I tip my hat to the team and perhaps take the time to ponder my points and make up your own mind if you appreciate the cost and effort to keep dissent somewhat civil.
The other paper down the street and our publicly funded... “state broadcaster” on 3rd only welcomes sycophants and very little if any dissent.
Up 4 Down 2
ralpH on Mar 15, 2018 at 2:45 pm
@ Nile I agree to a point good employees should get some severance. I think the issue here is a classic example of the union saying one thing and the city another. If COW was responsible to the ratepayers they should offer cost of living to the employees and that’s it. And as far as new employees Should be the city’s right to adjust salary scope and conditions. Thinking Union should be more flexible. But that is not likely
Up 8 Down 0
Bob Graham on Mar 15, 2018 at 9:01 am
Always wonder why an employee would get severance pay when retiring? Never happen in Private Sector but I guess no end to the depth of taxpayer pockets.
Up 2 Down 3
Joe on Mar 14, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Linda rapp is manager ? Where is this city going? Omg
Up 2 Down 8
drum on Mar 14, 2018 at 6:04 pm
Is Rapp saying the Union lied. After a certain number of years service all employees should receive Severance Pay no matter why they leave. What do the City Council receive at end of their term!!!!!!!! Long service should always be honored - not just because you started your time with the City of Whitehorse before the ratification date. Unions should not let employers take away benefits fought for in the past. Steve - fight.
Up 0 Down 0
Josey Wales on Mar 14, 2018 at 4:40 pm
Congratulations Linda Rapp on your “appointment” like it was ever an actual competition. Hopefully you are a better negotiator than a user of computers.
Entitled to our entitlements...should be our civic motto.
Never have I seen our swamp so gator infested, do we EVER, EVEEEER need ours drained.
Up 6 Down 1
Nile Nukon on Mar 14, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Long service awards for both the CoW and YG should be scrapped. Congratulations for working the same job for 5,10,20 years in the highest paid sector with the most benefits. You shouldn't need a tax funded party and gift to celebrate it.