May 13, Niagara Falls – Contract negotiations between the Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) and Workers United, the union representing close to 100 restaurant servers at the NPC, have reached a stand still. After more than five days of negotiations, NPC is refusing to budge on the issue of gratuities.
Despite being the face of the quality service NPC is known for, restaurant servers are the lowest paid at the Niagara Parks Commission. And yet, servers are being asked to take a two-year wage freeze and to give up a percentage of their gratuities.
The argument from the NPC is that management has been told to exercise restraint as they scramble to recover from several years of mismanagement and excessive spending.
“They couldn’t rein in their spending, and now they’re asking their lowest paid workers to foot the bill while NPC management remain among the highest paid in the Niagara peninsula. It is absurd and unjust,” said Alex Dagg, Canadian director of Workers United.
“It’s unfortunate to see this happening after all the hard work Fay Booker has put into improving the situation at Niagara Parks,” said Sandra Rebrovich, President of Workers United Local 2347. Booker, appointed Chairperson of Niagara Parks in April 2010, has spent the last year working to restore its integrity and reputation.
“Gratuities are the portion of servers’ wages which do not cost NPC anything, and have the most significant impact on the financial well-being of servers and their families. The spirit of the Niagara Parks Commission is to preserve the natural beauty of the area while contributing to the surrounding community; it should not be making its lowest paid workers even more vulnerable,” said Dagg.
“We are prepared to accept that ‘times are tough’, but we are not prepared to cover the costs of their spending by giving up a percentage of our gratuities while others continue to receive pay and benefit increases,” said Rebrovich.
Workers United represents approximately one thousand workers in the Niagara region. Restaurant servers at the Niagara Parks Commission have been members of the union since 1994. Across Canada Workers United represents 9,000 workers in apparel and textile manufacturing, plastic and auto parts manufacturing, distribution and retail, hotels and restaurants, and social service organizations.