Harsh words for proposal to boost mayor's benefits
'Very disrespectful and poor timing,' Iqaluit councillor
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, May 2, 2016
IQALUIT
City councillors turned away a proposed change to the mayor's benefits package and had some harsh words about the timing of it.
Nunavut Employees Union president Bill Fennell stuffs a giant version of a City of Iqaluit letter into a trash can fire outside city hall in March. He took issue with an attempt by the city to change the mayor's benefits package. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
The change, proposed at a council meeting April 26, would have seen the mayor have a benefits package comparable to a director of the city, something that was apparently the intent of the bylaw in the first place when the mayor's position became full-time. Included would be two vacation travel allowances (VTA) per year.
But in the midst of a labour dispute and in light of the city's financial circumstances, some councillors didn't react positively to the idea.
"As much as I support or not support this bylaw, I don't support it right now, because first of all we're showing the community that we're looking after ourselves," said Coun. Joanasie Akumalik.
He referenced senior management not getting a raise and the state of the city's labour relations, saying he would support the change later, but not now and out of the blue.
Coun. Jason Rochon called the proposal highly insulting.
"Since we were elected city councillors in the fall, we inherited Waterless Wednesdays and we are potentially the only capital city in Canada where we have water restrictions such as that, we've been told we're running deficits, we've been told we're in debt, we're increasing garbage rates, we're increasing water rates, we're increasing user fees all across the board, we've put huge stresses and hardships on residents and local businesses because of this," he said. "I just feel it's very disrespectful and poor timing."
Rochon, who is also second vice-president of the Nunavut Employees Union, didn't tie the labour relations aspect into his words.
Coun. Simon Nattaq, speaking through an interpreter, said he will always oppose increases in the mayor's pay.
"We are in a state of trying to save money," Nattaq said. "This issue will increase our spending that we are trying to curb."
Union president Bill Fennell told Nunavut News/North afterward he was happy to see the issue deferred.
"It was quite shocking that the mayor after her talks in the media about how everyone has to help with the deficit, that she kind of turns around and tries to slip this one through, or the administration did," Fennell said.
"I don't want to say it's the mayor herself that did it, but they presented a package with major, major concessions, not just cuts to VTA and not just freezing their wages but taking away other rights as
well."
Mayor Madeleine Redfern, currently on vacation, took to social media to share her side of the story.
She explained that in 2012 the council decided to increase the mayor's position to be the same pay and benefits as that of a city director.
The April 26 remuneration bylaw amendment to add the VTA was "purely administrative to correct past error and oversight," stated Redfern on her Facebook page.
She went on to say she was surprised to learn the bylaw stated two VTAs for the mayor per year, which she says was incorrectly worded.
"I have agreed to a salary freeze and agreed to the same conditions as the city is asking of its staff, so if VTAs are eliminated and/or reduced, it would be the same for the mayor," stated Redfern.
"Furthermore, I will happily forgo VTAs and any other non-health related benefits, such as 10 paid sports days per year, berry picking day, clam digging day, wellness leave, etc. - so long as the union recommends the same for the members and give up all VTAs. This would save the city not just a few thousand dollars on mayor's VTA but save the city over a million dollars, each and every year."
Council voted to defer the bylaw amendment.
