Two weeks after deciding not to raise the remuneration rates for meals from $60 to $80 council was again deliberating the issue.
Although council had unanimously declined to raise the amount, the International Union of Operating Engineers that represents approximately 100 City workers asked that council revisit it.
The union says it wants to ensure that its members are not out-of-pocket when travelling for training — some of which is mandatory for employees to be certified operators of water and sewer systems, for example.
John Dube, chief shop steward for the IUOE, says when travelling on City business council members, for example, receive $60 a day for meals, $120 for lost wages, and their annual stipend. City workers and staff, on the other hand, receive the $60 meal remuneration and their wage.
Mayor and council’s annual stipend is intended as remuneration for their work in the community; the $120 is separate and serves to compensate councillors when they have to take time off work to travel on City business, says Brian Carruthers, City chief administrative officer.
But Dube says it’s “easy for them (councillors) to live on $60 when they get another $120 given to them before they leave.”
He concedes if the rate remained at $60 it would not be a “huge amount of money” the unionized staff would lose. “But even if it costs us $5 it’s still too much. This is not by choice. We have to do those courses and we’re away 24 hours a day. Even if we’re losing $2 a day it’s too much.”
Dube would like the City to increase the meal remuneration to $80.
According to the city, based on 2010 numbers, 30 per cent of the per diem budget went to union workers, 53 per cent to management and staff and 17 per cent to council. That translates to $3,490 for union, $5,975 for management and $1,575 for council.
Coun. Laurie Walters suggested a compromise noting, “If it’s out of pocket that disturbs me.”
Coun. Surinderpal Rathor echoed Walters but voiced a concern about perception in the community.
“I have no problem sending it back to the table and reconsidering the whole matter,” Rathor said.
Mayor Kerry Cook said the union had brought the issue forward citing a number of concerns but said she didn’t think it was the right time to increase the remuneration for meals to $80.
In the end, council moved to keep the per diem at $60 but add the 12 per cent HST on to that amount; it referred the matter to 2012 budget discussions. The City can claim the HST.
