Councillors boost own salaries

12% raise over four years matches unionized employees But some say they didn’t notice pay hike item on agenda

Toronto city councillors have given themselves a 12.25 per cent raise over four years — but many say they didn’t even know it. In a move, one councillor called “trickery,” city council voted to hike their salaries as well as the mayor’s to the same percentage rates negotiated this year by unionized employees. The item was slipped in during debate at the September council meeting on ratifying the contract for Local 79, Canadian Union of Public Employees, and matching wage hikes for the city’s non- union staff.

Because it dealt with employee matters, it was done behind closed doors. The councillors’ increase is a reversal of a policy adopted in 2000, where they voted to receive only “ cost of living” increases based on the consumer price index. But yesterday, at a meeting of the employee and labour relations committee, councillors were taken by surprise when they learned they had given themselves a raise.

“This is really wrong,” said Councillor Michael Walker ( Ward 22, St. Paul’s), calling for immediate action to correct it. Mayor David Miller respects the decision, spokesperson Patchen Barss said yesterday.

Because the pay raise has already been approved by council, it can only be overturned by a two- thirds majority.

This year, the mayor earns $ 144,961.96 and a city councillor earns $ 85,497.36 after a 1.7 per cent cost of living increase on Jan. 1. They received a 2.4 per cent raise in 2004. Under the new policy, the politicians would get an additional hike of about 1 per cent hike, retroactive for this year. That brings them in line with the union deal, which gave employees a 2.75 per cent hike this year. Councillors will also get 3 per cent on Jan. 1, 2006, 3.25 per cent on Jan. 1, 2007 and 3.25 per cent on April 1, 2008. A1 per cent hike for councillors translates into $840 this year.

Budget chief David Soknacki, who voted against the pay raises at council, said yesterday that Councillor Howard Moscoe amended the motion to extend pay hikes to politicians, and “ nobody noticed” at council. The proposal was approved by a 25- 9 vote.

Soknacki, who called Moscoe’s manoeuvre “ trickery” at committee, toned down his rhetoric in an interview afterward.

“ I didn’t think opening a controversial and divisive matter in the middle of discussing the settlement of another labour agreement was appropriate,” said Soknacki ( Ward 43, Scarborough East). Moscoe defended his motion, saying politicians are worthy of the money.

“ I think we deserve the same raises everybody else got — modest though they may be,” he said.

“ I’m not in the slightest bit embarrassed.”

He disputed any suggestion that some

councillors were

duped into voting for

the raises, saying some

want to appear not interested in salaries.

While some councillors have other incomes, the vast majority of councillors depend on their city salary to support their fami-

lies, said Moscoe ( Ward 15, EglintonLawrence).

“ They have wives, hungry kids and mortgages to support,” he said.

Councillor Janet Davis backed Moscoe’s move.

“ I think we’ve made a decision, and I would support standing by it,” said Davis ( Ward 31, Beaches- East York), adding it’s already in the budget.

“ It’s clear for the next three years. Let’s move on and deal with other matters.”

Councillor Cliff Jenkins (Ward 25, Don Valley West) will try to put a notice of motion on the agenda for a Nov. 24 special meeting of council to reverse the decision.

“ The real point is councillors should not be retroactively increasing their salary,” Jenkins said, noting people run for office knowing what the pay will be.

In addition, Jenkins said he believes councillors are caught in another conflict — tying their salaries to wage settlements that they approve.

“ It’s an abuse of power. We simply should not have done it,” he said. Moscoe challenged that, saying most councillors are not involved in collective bargaining. Senior management staff, who get the same raises as unionized employees, would then also be in a conflict, he said.

Councillor Jane Pitfield argued politicians cannot be seen to back a pay increase, given the city’s budgetary woes.

“ It is the optics and perception of looking after ourselves,” said Pitfield ( Ward 26, Don Valley West). “ It’s the principle. It’s not how much money.”

Walker argued the item was slipped in without most councillors’ knowledge. “I don’t think I should have to go through every page of every report to see if something is being snuck in.” Moscoe countered that his critics had as much information as he did. “ If they didn’t know what they were voting for, then they don’t deserve the increase. They’re not doing their jobs.”