They don't have to take the job. If it doesn't pay well enough, they can find another. Point being that many people earn less than $17/hr. Why the hell should the government selectively overpay people? That isn't 'fair'.
Many do make less than $17/hr. and they get by, often by working two and three jobs to make ends meet. The City is an employer like any else. They are employing people (human beings) to perform a function in a full time capacity and should be paid a decent wage for what they do. I don't think a garbage collector (for example) making $25/hr (a decent working wage) is overpaying someone who does a fairly laborious job, starts very early in the morning or works evenings. That said, I don't support the banking of sick days for payout at retirement, I believe that must come off the table.
the cities job is not provide their works with a great life.
I was commenting on the private collector's wage, not the City garbage collectors but yes, someone making that kind of money can seek out a job which pays better. No employer has any obligation (nor should they) to provide a job for life however if a company (including the City) has a reliable, hard working, honest, committed employee with a good work ethic why wouldn't a company want to keep him/her for life and reward them with annual pay increases in good times, and if the employer can afford it, cost of living increases through difficult times.
Its to provide services to the people in Toronto without bankrupting itself...
Yes, and yes. The problem with the City's fiscal issues run much deeper than paying City employees a livable wage.
Why should the city care if its employees have enough money to buy a house and keep a mortgage. That is individuals responsibility. If he wants such a life, he should strive for a better job.
They shouldn't, however if the general public support is against paying City employees a decent wage I worry for the future.
There are two options left
1) Keep paying these clowns and finally bankrupt ourselves.
2) privatize it already and got better work done as well.
Unions are not bad its the public sector unions.
You are either ignorant or an blind fool to really think public sector unions have the people in mind.
Plus The politicians at city hall are cowards. Why don't they respond with No, get back to work, your demands are ridiculous or else where privatizing Garbage collection.
Referring to City employees as clowns is unfair.
Privatizing and busting the union is an option, sure. Think for a moment if your company decides to outsource or hire an outside company to do the job that you do for less. Some jobs are immune from this, many others are not. That is my fear, how far and for how long do we continue down this road by finding other companies to to do the job by younger, cheaper and less experienced workers, and continuing to eliminate decent living wages in this country.