Comments on: Some Kirkland City employees take issue over budget gap article

By: I got out...

I got out... — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 18:42:59 +0000

Trooper’s question is a good one. The answer is hard to explain here and is wrapped in many different issues including union contracts and the way wage increases work. Please don’t assume that all employees get the same raises or increases. It depends on your union and many other items. For people that work inside (not Police, Fire or PW/park crews) you stop getting any raises other than COLA (tied to CPI) after 3 years and then you get a small bump after like 10 years ($50?) - no matter how good you are at your job. The benefits and liking public service is what keeps the good ones from taking a better job where people don’t assume they are lazy just because they work for the government.

By: Trooper

Trooper — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:31:19 +0000

Can’t disagree, but I am confused. If the wage line on the budget is increased by 6% yet the individual employees don’t receive a 6% wage increase, does that mean that the budget anticipates an increase in the number of employees? Or does possibly mean that some employees receive a pay raise of more than 6%? What’s missing here?

By: kirkland busy body

kirkland busy body — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:10:56 +0000

Rob,
Ditto ampersandy’s comment.
The issue of cost is not the employees or the unions making. Wages are what they are. Other costs like health care premiums are generally out of the employees and employers hands. I believe that the majority of City employees do a great job and deserve to be paid a fair wage for the work they do. The real issue is the management of the employees. This starts at the Council and is administered by the City Manager. The company I work for has told us that there is only so much money to go around. Prioritize, Prioritize , Prioritize! I expect that we will see reductions in our workforce shortly. Everyone is working extra hard and we are actively finding ways to improve our performance and work output. Many know that this is long overdue and will probably mean that they will be looking for other employment. Maybe even me. I suspect that this will happen at the City as well. Not a pleasant thought but necessary and probably overdue.

By: Thoughts of mine

Thoughts of mine — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:03:42 +0000

The story was clear. People worried about their jobs don’t want the boss to know how much their position costs. Budget figures like these do not bode well for the city budget.

By: ampersandy

ampersandy — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:40:54 +0000

Kudos for clarifying this.