Dear Editor:
Re: It's a win-win, The Record, Aug. 29.
Coun. Bill Harper is touting this as the first city to sign a labour agreement which will extend over four years.
First, it is a good thing the city no longer has to negotiate with Metro Vancouver, which always seemed to go along with four or five per cent increases even during recessions, which resulted in higher than average wages.
We can no longer blame a third party for increases.
Knowing Coun. Harper as an ex-CUPE staff member (and, I believe, an organizer), I am not surprised at his excitement over this settlement. Nice when you get to sit on both sides of the table.
Labour peace is important, however, there should have been a reopen clause should others negotiate a better deal.
Coun. Harper has not touched on the topic that public service workers are being lambasted by negative comments from struggling taxpayers. New Westminster is no different.
The mood out there is to roll back highly paid public service workers to where they are paid fairly but not 25 to 30 per cent higher than average private sector workers.
CUPE members voting 97 per cent in favour of a 6.75 increase is not surprising! The rest of the municipalities and the province are trying to negotiate net-zero contracts.
CUPE is the winner here. We will have to see whether the city and taxpayers win once other agreements are reached.
John Ashdown, New Westminster
