The Mayor of Owen Sound is getting some help in her fight to change the provincial arbitration process.
Deb Haswell met on Monday with Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak and Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker.
Hudak is calling for a mandatory public sector wage freeze to reign in what he calls “ballooning public service salary costs.”
He also wants to reform the arbitration system that results in unrealistic settlements.
Haswell has also called for changes — since the City’s fire service costs will increase from 3.7 million to 4.2 million dollars this year.
An arbitrator recently awarded the City’s firefighters a wage hike of more than 3.5 per cent in each of the last three years.
Haswell says small Cities like Owen Sound can not afford these outrageous arbitration settlements — and welcomes Hudak’s efforts.
