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Wrong time for a pay increase

Last week Barrhead town council approved Barrhead Public Library’s budget, as well as the municipality’s interim budget, both of which include a half of a per cent cost of living wage adjustment (COLA) increase. Congratulations.

Last week Barrhead town council approved Barrhead Public Library’s budget, as well as the municipality’s interim budget, both of which include a half of a per cent cost of living wage adjustment (COLA) increase.

Congratulations. I am never one to begrudge any wage increase a person is able to get, including those, what many would call extreme, in the entertainment or professional sporting world.

If someone is willing to pay it, who am I to say a person isn’t worthy of it.

That being said, I find myself agreeing with Coun. Ryan Warehime, who voted against both of the increases, the only councillor to do so on both subjects.

Not that I am saying library or our municipal workers don’t work hard and deserve an increase. On the contrary these workers, provide a wonderful service to the community and deserve to be adequately compensated for it and by and large I believe they are.

The problem is so do many people and unlike the town and library workers will not be receiving any type of wage increase and haven’t had one in multiple years. I would also wager, if I had the money to do so, that a large percentage of people who won’t be getting a COLA increase base pay is lower than that of a civic employee.

Now before I get any phone calls, I do not actually know what the majority of the library or town municipal workers get paid, as they are not publically disclosed, nor do I really want to know, but I imagine it is above Alberta’s proposed $15 minimum wage.

Mayor Gerry St. Pierre said the reason why he voted for COLAs for both the library and town workers is that it is better to do small incremental changes rather than face a large increase down the road.

However, that isn’t necessarily the case. In a non-union shop, such as the town, it will be up to council to set wages at a point they believe is fair and enough to keep or attract employees and is affordable in its budget structure. In the future, that might mean an increase, but it could mean the status quo or even a rollback.

Admittedly, a half a percentage wage increase doesn’t amount to much in the scheme of a multimillion-dollar corporation, such as The Town of Barrhead, but still, about $13,000 is a fair bit of change that at the end of the day could mean all the difference in a program being cancelled.

Also the town and its ratepayers are going to be on the hook for some added expenses, the operating expenses for the pool for example. Another is the costs associated with upgrades to both the wastewater system lagoons and reservoir pump station.

Yes, times are tough and the cost of living is increasing making it harder for everyone to make ends meet, including the town. That’s why now isn’t the time for a pay increase, even one as minimal as this.


Barry Kerton

About the Author: Barry Kerton

Barry Kerton is the managing editor of the Barrhead Leader, joining the paper in 2014. He covers news, municipal politics and sports.
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