City employees earn their raises

FOR FINANCIAL reasons, the Journal editorial of June 10 expresses dismay with the (Albuquerque) City Council’s decision to override the mayor’s veto of the budget initially passed by the council. About half the editorial identifies the public offices current city officials are seeking in next October’s election or in state and federal elections in 2018.

My objection is that in the penultimate paragraph, employee raises in the newly approved budget are characterized as political payoffs, including 3 percent for firefighters, who are unionized, and 1 percent for employees represented by the AFSCME union. Referring to the councilors who voted in favor, the raises are called “moves that will likely earn them votes come October.”

First, after taxes, a raise of 3 percent is negligible and a raise of 1 percent is invisible. For example, if an AFSCME member earns $40,000 annually, a 1 percent raise before taxes is $400, $15.38 biweekly, and 19 cents an hour. Based on my knowledge of human resources management and labor relations, it takes about a 5 percent raise to actually improve one’s income.

Second, annual salary increases are commonplace and even expected in the United States to recognize length of service and sometimes merit. To me, city employees make the city function, and fiscal responsibility includes rewarding their contribution.

Most importantly, the Journal insults the many knowledgeable and dedicated public officials and employees in averring the council authorized the raises to buy votes from employees, and employees can be bought with tiny raises — or raises of any size. Yes, city employees also are voters, but they work to earn their pay, as we all do. DIANNE R. LAYDEN Albuquerque