FOLLOW THE MONEY

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "A FLIGHT OF FANCY":

12:39

Did you ever think that as a process, the sunshine list should have the limit raised? We increase salaries but the threshold for the sunshine list has stayed the same. 

If you left it at $100k eventually all TPD will be on it. 

Posted by Anonymous to  Our Town and Its Business at 18 March 2015 at 07:49

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This year the Fire Department apparently  won parity with the police department . In both negotiations, the parties are bound by compulsory arbitration. Arbitrators are not bound by anything at all. 

I heard the fire department won 6% increase in the recent settlement. It caused quite a stir. but not a whisper was heard.. Do not expect any reference from our doughty politicians. 

The  police  association and fire department  canvas candidates before municipal elections to determine their position on "Adequate" funds for protection. 

50% of service calls to the fire department are medical emergencies,a provincial responsibility.

 Oh yes, discussions do take place under the radar, at an administrative level ,about problems created by arbitration. But it's all very hush hush. 

Police and Firefighters are powerful forces in the electoral process. No politician in his right minds dare run afoul .

The sunshine list reflects only salaries. Benefits are worh probably a third more .Very generous. But never generous  enough.Every negotiation comes up with new ideas .

Teachers salaries are influenced and influence others. Nurses.and Librarians also keep a keen eye on settlements. Full-time staff are on the payroll to deal with negotiations. 

The Province has just appointed former Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall to seek out the problem of the Toronto District School Board. The budget is never balanced. 

We regularly read or hear of cuts to services. Invariably, programs for students who need it most are first cut. 

The obvious is never spoken of.  The Province negotiates teacher salaries and benefits. They dictate board spending. After they award settlements to keep teachers happy , everything else has to be cut to meet the provincial 

allocation. 

The  High School Teachers Federation used to have  the most clout. The elementary system, where resources  were most needed, were starved out to keep high school teachers happy.

Local autonomy in education is long forgotten. the idea that

taxpayers have any say is a total fallacy. 

But who talks about it?

Not the local politicians that's for sure. 

Evelyn Buck