You know, given the results of the TTC labour negotiation, I can’t help but wonder if there is a huge opportunity for DRT drivers and employees of other transit agencies in the GTA. The TTC drivers have won a clause guaranteeing that they will be the highest paid in the GTA. But what if DRT drivers, say, negotiate the same clause when their contract is up?
We’d have two agencies both required to pay their drivers more than any other agency. As any high school student can tell you, if no cap was applied, the logical result is that these clauses would cause salaries on the two systems to rise without limit. Since infinite salaries are impossible in the real world, a practical limit would have to exist somewhere. Perhaps drivers would end up making $1 million per year?
Obviously, this is ridiculous, and I’m deliberating choosing a scenario to make a point – but granting any employee of any organization automatic increases to be “higher than everyone else” clause considering what “everyone else” may do seems like a rather shortsighted thing to do.
Filed under: TTC
Don’t worry about DRT jumping ahead of TTC drivers in hourly rate. It is not going to happen. DRT employees are represented by the CAW. When it comes to transit they do not show same interest as they do to the auto industry. After going on strike in 2006 CAW gave up hundreds of thousands of dollars in cessions. DRT had the opportunity to reduce operating cost dramatically. Getting parity with the TTC hourly rate would still not be as costly to Durham Region. The TTC workers, with their bonus and allowances will continue to make more. In closing… I was surprised to see the wage guarantee in the contract. Then again, it only applies to the TTC drivers.