Owen Sound City Hall. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting)
Owen Sound council has endorsed a wage increase for the city’s non-union employees, and themselves.
Council approved a staff recommendation at its meeting Monday for a 1.5 per cent wage increase for non-union workers, in line with a recent hike granted to unionized city employees.
According to a report by Owen Sound’s Human Resources Manager Melissa Clancy, Owen Sound employs about 100 non-union workers directly and another 30 through the library board, which approves wage increases for their staff. The other non-union workers employed by the city are management and administrative staff, facility division, and art gallery employees.
The wage hike will cost the city about $72,000 in 2021.
Clancy’s report explains the non-union wage increase will also be applied to council remuneration.
Council ended up passing the staff recommendation for the 1.5 per cent hike for non-union employees, and themselves, after an amendment proposed by Coun. Marion Koepke to hold off the increase to council salaries was voted down.
“In recognition of Covid still affecting our finances, I think it responsible of council to not accept a wage increase for the year 2021,” Koepke said.
During the discussion, Coun. Richard Thomas said that while 1.5 per cent will not make much of a difference to him, “the whole reason the city went to the remuneration committee system was because council after council failed to vote itself any kind of an increase.” He noted that “I think the remuneration system was put in not for us sitting here, but for future generations of councillors who are going to come to Owen Sound and expect some minimal compensation for the hours they put in.”
In a 6-3 recorded vote, council voted down Koepke’s proposal to forego its salary increase in 2021.
The approved 1.5 per cent hike will be applied annually through Jan. 1, 2023.
Clancy’s report noted council committed to a comprehensive review of remuneration last year that will be completed during the next term, likely in 2024.