Grits pitch wage freeze to PS unions
The Ontario government is asking its more than 1 million public sector workers to accept a wage freeze to help curb an estimated $21.3 billion deficit. The proposal was pitched to 60 labor leaders at a Toronto hotel. Labor leaders have come out against the proposal, saying that they will take the government to court if they legislate the wage freeze. Other leaders say that their members spend their money into the local economy, and that the 1% or 2% wage increases make a huge difference to workers. They also pointed out that some managers received bonuses larger than workers' entire salary. Some also thought of the logistics, with some unions having more than 500 separate contracts. Government officials say that the wage freeze would save around $750 million, which they would use to increase funding for hospitals and wages.
See "Grits pitch wage freeze to PS unions", Linda Nguyen, The Ottawa Citizen, July 20, 2010