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Massive salary increase for government insiders, eight year freeze on minimum wage
August 9, 2008
The B.C. Federation of Labour is condemning the Gordon Campbell government’s massive salary increase for senior government executives.
“Gordon Campbell boosted his own salary by 54% and now he’s doling out taxpayers’ money to the highest paid people in government,” says Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour.
The Deputy Minister to the Premier has been given a 43% salary increase and will be paid $348,600 a year. Other Deputy Ministers will be paid $299,215 per year, a 35% increase. Assistant Deputy Ministers will see their salaries increase 22% to $195,000 a year.
“These salary increases are nothing short of obscene given Gordon Campbell’s adamant refusal to increase the provincial minimum wage,” Sinclair added.
The minimum wage has been frozen at $8 an hour since 2001. The recently appointed Minister of Labour Iain Black has indicated the government has no intention of increasing it.
“Quietly announcing these massive salary increases in a Friday in August as the Olympics begin is worthy of a gold medal in political cynicism,” Sinclair added.
For more information: Evan Stewart, Director of Communications, B.C. Federation of Labour (604) 430-1421.
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