Friday's letters: Council has no issue with own raises

Published Mar 15, 2024 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 6 minute read

Library workers with Civic Service Union 52, rally outside the Stanley Milner Library, as contract talks between the City and the union have stalled, in Edmonton Thursday March 7, 2024. Photo by David Bloom /Postmedia

As a member of CSU 52, I am incredibly frustrated, angry, and feeling incredibly defeated. At what point does the City of Edmonton council start taking some responsibility for how this city is being operated? They have no issues with taking pay increases for themselves; I wonder how many of them worry about how they are going to pay their bills.

Putting an article on the front page of the Journal stating that taxes are going to be hiked because of the CSU 52 battle will only incite the rest of Edmonton’s population to be angry at one particular group. This tax increase would have been done regardless of whether or not CSU 52 and its 6,000 members were given what they deserve after an almost six-year zero-pay increase

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Mary Coulter, Edmonton

CSU members deserve their share

I find it ironic that the City of Edmonton refuses to give the members of CSU 52 a 1.1-per-cent raise, yet they have no problem hiring a myriad of consultants whose principal of these companies charge between $250 and $400 per hour, considerably higher than the vast majority of CSU 52 members, who haven’t had a collective agreement in four years.

And don’t get me started on the layer upon layer of middle managers employed by the city. Not to mention the fact that city council just quietly received a 2.41-per-cent raise themselves. The hypocrisy is jaw-dropping.

Kathy Hunter, Beaver County

City workers need to use food bank?

Help me to better understand the comment made in the Edmonton Journal Feb. 13 article, ” ‘As long as it takes’: City of Edmonton and library union looking at full-on strike:”

“‘The union asks aren’t much considering high inflation and interest rate hikes,’ Chudyk said. ‘I have members that are now accessing the food bank because their rents have gone up so much,’ he said. ‘We’re not asking for the moon here.’”

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The city has stated that full-time active Union 52 members earn on average $86,000 per year, not including full benefits they receive, yet these workers need to use the food bank?

If this is indeed the case, perhaps someone could also explain why it is that single people struggling to survive on AISH in this province who are unable to work due to medical conditions, are expected to live on $22,356 annually (before tax) with receipt of minimal health benefits that are also constantly scrutinized? By the way, the poverty line in Edmonton after tax: $22,060.

M.A.P. Stoyko, Edmonton

City must look beyond tax increases

While I support Union 52 in their negotiations I take offence with the city manager and city council saying a hefty tax increase is the only solution if they get a raise.

Cut other places, roll back councillor wages or increase revenue through naming rights or other and better options. I think the city has tapped out on user-fee increases. Don’t threaten the taxpayer.

C.A. Watson, Edmonton

City workers subsidized tax rate

For the last six years, Edmonton city employees have subsidized our tax rate, as they’ve received no wage increases. It’s time to treat these employees properly with fair wages, and we must accept our taxes will increase to pay these essential workers.

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Richard Zwicker, Edmonton

Council should decline its pay hike

There’s some real irony in city council getting an automatic 2.4-per-cent salary increase — for a single year — when municipal civil servants have enjoyed a zero per-cent increase for the last five years. If the Alberta average weekly earnings is such a fair and impartial way to decide what people should be paid, negotiations with the union should be straightforward and compensation should move in lockstep with council. No?

Perhaps council should reassess its own pay in light of Edmonton’s economic reality, decline this raise, roll back its wages, and dedicate the savings to a deal with the union.

S.A. Blumenschein, Edmonton

Family change rooms are a necessity

Family change rooms were introduced years ago to enable single parents to change their children. Where do you want the single father of two girls to help them change? The men’s change rooms? Hardly appropriate.

Do you want a woman to bring her two sons into the women’s change room? I’ve been there when that has happened and the boys stared at all of the women changing. Family change rooms are needed. But perhaps they require a key to be asked for to make them safer.

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Kelly McGuire, Edmonton

Private surgical centre impresses

One week ago, I had right knee replacement surgery. A couple months prior, I was assessed at the Edmonton Bone and Joint Centre and it was then determined that because I had no other material health concerns that I was a prime candidate for day surgery at the Alberta Surgical Group (ASG) in Ellerslie.

I was a little apprehensive, partly due to my age, 74, plus all surgeries have risks. I chose ASG because I was scheduled within a few short weeks as compared to up to one year at either the Royal Alex or the Misericordia hospitals. I have had past surgeries at the Royal Alex and University hospitals with positive results.

From the time I entered ASG until the time I walked out, on crutches, seven hours later, I did not know our health services could be delivered in such a hygienic, efficient and collaborative manner. The team professionalism was outstanding. They have five operating theatres and conduct knee, hip, spinal, optic procedures, et cetera. Truly admirable.

If this is the way that AHS is heading in conjunction with, or without, billions of dollars of new hospitals, then the sooner we shift this bus into overdrive, the better for all Albertans and all of Alberta.

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Lew Galbraith, Fort Saskatchewan

Single-use item bylaw reduces waste

Re. “Tell your councillor to toss bag bylaw,” Letters, March 12

M.B. Larsen’s letter is missing the point of the bag bylaw. The purpose of the bylaw is to reduce plastic waste. It is not to generate revenue for businesses. The cost to consumers is minor. The benefit to the environment is significant.

Don C. Paradis, Edmonton

Bring your own bags to avoid fees

No one is being forced to buy a paper bag; there are convenient alternatives like bringing your own containers or reusable bags. I don’t know what the charge is for a paper bag, so rarely do I resort to using one, but I am certain the price is worth the preservation of our forests.

Doris Wrench Eisler, St. Albert

‘Other charges’ on power bill not fair

Attention Nathan Neudorf: I understand that you are the Utilities minister for Alberta. I have a long-lasting and burdensome issue to share with you.

Usually my power consumption is 25 per cent of my total bill amount. Now it is 30 per cent of my total bill amount. I don’t have an issue with the amount charged for my consumption of electricity. What I do find challenging is that the overwhelming percentage of my bill goes to other “charges.”

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It is a hardship, not only for me, but also for thousands of consumers who individually pay those same charges. Because utility companies are apparently allowed to charge these fees (that add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars each and every month) every single Albertan is lining the pockets of some very wealthy corporations and or individuals. It is not right, just, or fair.

Belinda Outzen, Ponoka

Letters welcome

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