The Editor,
I am writing in reference to the recent stories in The Tri-City News regarding School District 43 trustees’ wages.
Instead of comparing pay with that of Tri-City councillors, the total wage package, including the formula used, should be distributed to all school trustees in B.C. for their input and comment on the highest paid trustees in the province.
SD43 trustees do not attend meetings in July and August when school is out. In addition, there are no meetings in March, when school trustees attend a free 11-day trip to China.
During the last school board elections, most of the candidates declared in an all-candidates meeting that if they were elected, they would initiate a change to the formula used to make SD43 trustees the highest paid in the province. The candidates stated they would invite a formula similar to other school districts, which used the cost of living for wage increases.
I am sure the question will be put to any elected trustee on why they did not follow through with their commitment. It will also be interesting to see how many school trustees will still support the free China trips after the public sent a clear message they were opposed to free gifts. The Port Coquitlam trustee who has moved to the Interior will be eligible to take one of the free trips to China in March 2018.
Dave Ginter, President, CUPE Local 561
