Region of Waterloo managers receive big raises while refusing to negotiate fair wages for striking CUPE members
WATERLOO, ON –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– While members of CUPE Local 1656 who work for the Region of Waterloo continue the third week of their strike fighting for a fair deal, the most recent data from Ontario’s Sunshine List shows management at the Region have enjoyed large salary increases over the past several years while continuing their refusal to honour the deal they made with CUPE during negotiations.
“It really goes to show that when it comes to management, it’s ‘raises for me, but not for thee,’” said CUPE Local 1656 President Phil Dominas. “How is it fair that there is an endless pool of money for managers, but when it comes to negotiating wages for their workers, the ones who actually do the work to keep the region running, they claim that there is no money?”
Some notable salary increases at the Region of Waterloo can be found in the table below. Many enjoyed increases in a single year that CUPE members at the Region would have had to have worked for well over a decade to achieve.
| Name | Position | Salary 2022 | Salary 2023 | Percent Increase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Redman | Regional Chair | $184,793 | $190,410 | 3.0% |
| James Jarrett | Supervisor, Water Services | $102,083 | $125,005 | 22.4% |
| Dave De Gouveia | Manager, Fleet | $117,265 | $130,979 | 11.7% |
| Brydon Rayner | Supervisor, Forestry | $110,235 | $122,977 | 11.6% |
| Kate Konopka | Director, Labour Relations | $138,571 | $151,767 | 9.5% |
| Kelly Hilker | Manager, Labour Relations | $116,289 | $127,726 | 9.3% |
| Jeremy Gardner | Manager, Airport Operations | $120,322 | $130,339 | 8.3% |
| Michael Henderson | Manager, Transportation | $139,851 | $148,474 | 6.2% |
“I can confidently say that no members of CUPE 1656 have ever seen a double-digit salary increase in a single year, and that’s nowhere near what we’ve been asking for,” said Dominas. “Our members have experienced the rising rate of inflation and increased cost of living just like management has. All we continue to ask is for Karen Redman and Regional Council to honour the deal that they made to us in negotiations before taking it away and attempting to force us to accept less than half of what was originally offered.”
Dominas said that the local is committed to remaining on picket lines for as long as it takes to get a fair deal.
“Our members resolve is stronger than ever, and we have made it clear that Karen Redman and Regional Council need to honour the deal they made to our members and end the strike.”
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Eric Bell, CUPE Communications
(306) 580-0893
ebell@cupe.ca