Premier compares services for people with developmental disabilities to garbage collection
 

July 3, 2007 LONDON: Premier McGuinty today compared developmental services work to garbage collection.

He told a London, Ontario radio audience today that negotiations involving striking developmental service workers in the region were comparable to those involving ‘garbage collectors.’  

More than 1,000 workers in four London area agencies have been off the job for more than a week now. The premier was live on radio CJBK today along with Local 144 President Denise Sands when he made the comparison.

Sands asked McGuinty whether a two per cent raise reflected “the quality of our work and the hard work we do.” 

“We are paid 25-30 per cent lower than workers in other similar organizations,” she said.

The Premier said his government increased funding by $200 million dollars this year when agencies won’t receive most of that money until three years from now. Only $20-million was given to cover the wage gap this year amounting to little more than a two per cent wage increase.

The average wage in this sector is $17.39/hr with some agencies paying as low as $10.38/hr. Even if you take the average wage, two percent is only a 35 cent increase.

With the Premier's comparison in mind, it is worth noting that the average unionized municipal waste collector in Ontario earns $24.39 per hour.