'It's really a matter of transparency'
Couns. Linda Bussey, Julian Morse support revealing city employee salaries
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Saturday, November 28, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
At least two of eight city councillors have said they would support the creation of a "sunshine list" publicly disclosing the salaries of city employees.
There currently is no public list of city staff salaries and at least two councillors think there should be. - NNSL file photo
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A sunshine list is the common name for public disclosure of provincial government salaries each year in Ontario. Employees who make more than $100,000 in wages and benefits are listed by name and title with the exact amount they make per year. Alberta, Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have similar lists for provincial employees.
Couns. Julian Morse and Linda Bussey both told Yellowknifer they would support such a list if one were proposed, while Coun. Adrian Bell said he would support a more limited disclosure to protect privacy.
In some jurisdictions, public sector employee salaries are disclosed as a range. That means the exact salary is not given out, but the public gets a general idea of how much someone is paid with taxpayer money.
No such list or range figure exists for all city employees and it's unclear if the city could release that information under territorial law.
City spokesperson Nalini Naidoo stated in an e-mail Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act restricts release of that level of detail.
Directors make up to $169,550
After Yellowknifer asked whether the city would release salary ranges, she stated managers make between $100,822 and $140,546. Directors, the top level department heads, make between $124,035 and $169,550.
But that still doesn't compare to the level of detail available for unionized employees.
The collective agreement for municipal employees who are part of Local 345 which outlines salary ranges is posted on the Union of Northern Workers website.
For example, a municipal works engineer working 40 hours a week could make anywhere between $81,426.69 and $98,970.95 this year, based on the collective agreement.
But the agreement does not cover managers and non-unionized employees.
Earlier this year, the city hired a consulting firm to carry out a detailed review of salaries paid to unionized employees and management. The reviews are carried out before negotiations begin for union contracts. However, the city says it will not be releasing the report.
Councillors weigh in
When Yellowknifer asked the newly elected council, which has the salary report, if they would support a sunshine list for city employees, only three councillors gave definitive answers.
"I would not have a problem with having a sunshine list," Bussey said. "It's a discussion to have. It's really a matter of transparency."
She said she would support a motion to create such a list and would consider bringing such a motion herself.
"We're having a discussion right now, as you know, where we're looking at salaries and council - we need to have that discussion," she said.
Morse expressed support for disclosure of compensation above a certain level.
"I am supportive of public disclosure of a salary range for all positions over $100,000. We're a public government, these numbers should be public."
Bell would be supportive of providing salary ranges so privacy is not overly compromised.
"Ranges would be acceptable, but we have to be careful to protect privacy and confidentiality and be aware of potential impact on morale and recruitment if we were to go into too much detail," Bell said.
A U.S. study on the impact of salary disclosure found several adverse impacts. The study conducted by a researcher at Princeton University released in 2014 found an eight per cent reduction in pay for city managers, typically the highest paid employee, after salaries began being disclosed. As well, the cuts caused a 75 per cent increase in the rate of city managers quitting.
Coun. Niels Konge said he would have to look into the issue more before commenting.
An e-mail Thursday and calls Friday to the mayor and four other councillors were not returned by press time.
The GNWT does not have a sunshine list. However, the Department of Human Resources' website shows pay scales for employees. That document does not link names or titles to their pay scale.
