Editor: With all due respect to Bob Robinson, it is important to address certain facts he stated in his letter to the editor (The Times, Feb. 23). Unfortunately, the numbers he provided mask reality.

We will state unequivocally, and the facts support our position, that Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 403 members working within the Township of 91原创 (TOL) do not make on average $92,000 per year. Moreover, the TOL has well over 582 employees.

There are at present over 950 employees working within the TOL. The number quoted in Robinson鈥檚 letter fails to recognize a further 300-plus auxiliary/part-time unionized staff, over 100 casual workers, and 40-plus paid call firefighters.

While these numbers may seem excessive, we must keep in mind the incredible growth of the TOL and the increased demands by residents over the past decade.

With respect to employee salaries, if one were to look at the 2008 Statement of Financial Information (SOFI), which is posted at www.cupe403.ca, it will show that of the 117 employees making over $75,000, only eight employees were unionized CUPE 403 members. In 2009, there were approximately 21 CUPE 403 members in excess of $75,000. Most of the increase is due to overtime.

While those exempt (non-union) staff at the top of the pay structure receive wages far in excess of our members, the average wage of our members is far less than the $75,000 baseline used in the SOFI report. In fact, a comparison of wages of many exempt staff will show their respective wage increases between 2008 and 2009 have seemingly far exceeded the increase unionized staff received.

While taxpayers have every right to criticize the wages we receive, we would hope fair-minded readers of this newspaper would appreciate the value of receiving solid information.

We believe our members, who proudly serve the public on a daily basis, deserve that small favour. We would hope Township residents and this newspaper may feel the same way.

Paul Albrecht, president,

on behalf of the executive of CUPE 403