I read in the St. Albert Gazette that the city workers “will receive a 2.25 per cent raise under a new one-year agreement,” March 26 issue.
The article goes on to elaborate that they will receive one per cent retroactive to Jan. 1 and a further 2.5 per cent on July 1. It also states that the Consumer Price Index for the Edmonton area was 1.07 per cent in 2010. I can see how 2.25 per cent is arrived at as this is the cost to the city for 2011, but the starting point for the following year is 3.5 per cent higher than the base was at Jan. 1, 2010.
If these facts are correct, why did the reporter in the Gazette did not highlight that the agreement will result in a starting point for 2011 that is almost 2.5 per cent above the rate of local inflation? Canadian Union of Public Employees members have had increases that greatly exceeded inflation the past five years and council had an opportunity to start a new trend, yet missed this opportunity.
I had hoped that the new council would begin with a new approach to fiscal management but am quite disappointed.
Peter Lindhout, St. Albert
