AUSTERITY NO MORE!
Edmonton city workers rally for wage increase after five-year freezeStory by Lauren Boothby • Yesterday
Edmonton Journal
Members of Civic Service Union 52 hold a rally outside Edmonton city hall on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The rally was in support of workers at the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Public Library with the message that members will not accept zero per cent wage increases in their current contract negotiations. Union members have not had raises since 2018 and have not had contracts since 2020.
Members of Civic Service Union 52 hold a rally outside Edmonton city hall on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The rally was in support of workers at the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Public Library with the message that members will not accept zero per cent wage increases in their current contract negotiations. Union members have not had raises since 2018 and have not had contracts since 2020.
Unionized city workers including Edmonton Public Library (EPL) employees say it’s time the city unfreeze their wages after five years without any increases.
More than 100 workers and supporters rallied outside Edmonton city hall over the noon hour Tuesday wearing red shirts, waving Civic Service Union (CSU) flags, and holding signs demanding an end to zero per cent wage increases. CSU 52 members at the City of Edmonton such as 911 dispatchers, office workers and librarians have had wages frozen since 2018 and have been without a contract since 2020.
CSU 52 president Lanny Chudyk said workers are struggling with the increasing cost of living and interest rates and their wages are not keeping up despite the work they do to keep the city running.
He said having to come out and rally like this makes them feel a bit unwanted, unappreciated and not respected.
“My members bluntly are struggling with meeting their mortgage payments, meeting their car payments, just putting food on the table every day,” he said. “In a budget where we have $100 million plus for bike lanes, my members find it difficult to believe there are absolutely no dollars for wage increases.”
Chudyk said these employees are some of the lowest-paid city workers including many women, newcomers, and many are the “working poor.”
The city’s unwillingness to budge, particularly after city council gave itself a raise earlier this year, is unfair, he said, adding that the city hasn’t really been bargaining with them.
“It’s interesting council felt 2.4 per cent (increase) was appropriate for them in 2023,” he said. “Obviously city budgets are always tight. It depends then where you decide you want to spend your money, and I would say my members are some of the most important parts of the city’s infrastructure.”
Union president Lanny Chudyk speaks to the media as members of Civic Service Union 52 hold a rally outside Edmonton city hall on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The rally was in support of workers at the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Public Library with the message that members will not accept zero per cent wage increases in their current contract negotiations. Union members have not had raises since 2018 and have not had contracts since 2020.
More than 100 workers and supporters rallied outside Edmonton city hall over the noon hour Tuesday wearing red shirts, waving Civic Service Union (CSU) flags, and holding signs demanding an end to zero per cent wage increases. CSU 52 members at the City of Edmonton such as 911 dispatchers, office workers and librarians have had wages frozen since 2018 and have been without a contract since 2020.
CSU 52 president Lanny Chudyk said workers are struggling with the increasing cost of living and interest rates and their wages are not keeping up despite the work they do to keep the city running.
He said having to come out and rally like this makes them feel a bit unwanted, unappreciated and not respected.
“My members bluntly are struggling with meeting their mortgage payments, meeting their car payments, just putting food on the table every day,” he said. “In a budget where we have $100 million plus for bike lanes, my members find it difficult to believe there are absolutely no dollars for wage increases.”
Chudyk said these employees are some of the lowest-paid city workers including many women, newcomers, and many are the “working poor.”
The city’s unwillingness to budge, particularly after city council gave itself a raise earlier this year, is unfair, he said, adding that the city hasn’t really been bargaining with them.
“It’s interesting council felt 2.4 per cent (increase) was appropriate for them in 2023,” he said. “Obviously city budgets are always tight. It depends then where you decide you want to spend your money, and I would say my members are some of the most important parts of the city’s infrastructure.”
Union president Lanny Chudyk speaks to the media as members of Civic Service Union 52 hold a rally outside Edmonton city hall on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The rally was in support of workers at the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Public Library with the message that members will not accept zero per cent wage increases in their current contract negotiations. Union members have not had raises since 2018 and have not had contracts since 2020.
David Bloom/Postmedia© David Bloom
Lori Jeffery-Heaney, a page who has worked for EPL for nearly 15 years, said many library employees work part-time shift work, making it difficult to get additional employment. In one case, she said one employee told her she has only $65 a week to feed herself and her cat.
“That’s not very sustainable,” she told Postmedia. “We need to get something that is a reasonable wage increase.
“We serve the public … We need the public to understand what’s happening in the back for us, and we would love their support going forward … We are taxpayers too, we understand that (argument) too, but we still need to be paid reasonably.”
Tracy Forin, first vice-president for CSU 52 who works at the City of Edmonton, said city council members seem progressive and will tell union representatives that they agree workers deserve competitive wages but then vote against any increases.
“They talk a bit out of both sides of their mouths,” she told Postmedia.
“(Council members) took a raise this year, the city manager took a raise this year, and we haven’t had a raise in five years. It’s disappointing.”
City council members were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Members of Civic Service Union 52 hold a rally outside Edmonton city hall on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The rally was in support of workers at the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Public Library with the message that members will not accept zero per cent wage increases in their current contract negotiations. Union members have not had raises since 2018 and have not had contracts since 2020. David Bloom/Postmedia© David Bloom
lboothby@postmedia.com
Lori Jeffery-Heaney, a page who has worked for EPL for nearly 15 years, said many library employees work part-time shift work, making it difficult to get additional employment. In one case, she said one employee told her she has only $65 a week to feed herself and her cat.
“That’s not very sustainable,” she told Postmedia. “We need to get something that is a reasonable wage increase.
“We serve the public … We need the public to understand what’s happening in the back for us, and we would love their support going forward … We are taxpayers too, we understand that (argument) too, but we still need to be paid reasonably.”
Tracy Forin, first vice-president for CSU 52 who works at the City of Edmonton, said city council members seem progressive and will tell union representatives that they agree workers deserve competitive wages but then vote against any increases.
“They talk a bit out of both sides of their mouths,” she told Postmedia.
“(Council members) took a raise this year, the city manager took a raise this year, and we haven’t had a raise in five years. It’s disappointing.”
City council members were unavailable for comment Tuesday.
Members of Civic Service Union 52 hold a rally outside Edmonton city hall on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The rally was in support of workers at the City of Edmonton and Edmonton Public Library with the message that members will not accept zero per cent wage increases in their current contract negotiations. Union members have not had raises since 2018 and have not had contracts since 2020. David Bloom/Postmedia© David Bloom
lboothby@postmedia.com
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