Tuesday 9 April 2013

Does our government deserve a pay rise?

We are at present in a media stoked storm about deputies pay increases during a time of austerity and when States manual workers have been “offered a 0% rise”.

In the mix of this debate we have

    •    the seeming inability to gauge the true worth of our various deputies and understand whether we, the taxpayer, are getting value for money

    •    Little understanding of the workload of a deputy – although this is now becoming a bit clearer

    •    Some unease that it is a part time and (for some) an ancillary job

    •    a wish by some to either ignore or revisit the salary review method agreed by the past States following many years where deputies pay effectively was cut; this being the effect of a pay freeze during times of any inflation (incidentally the same argument now being used by the union for their manual workers).

    •    A desire to tie this subject in with the wage dispute with said States manual workers.

    •    A seeming disparity between what the States ask: “All departments need to spend less”, which often means cutting services, and what they do : “taking a pay rise” (even though the decision to award the increase is not in their hands).

The situation is further muddied by the regard of some that a deputy should serve the Island rather than be paid to do a job, although this argument isn't pursued for every other person in the public sector (including manual workers!).

A general lack of information to gain a fair understanding of the whole matter due to the randomness of media coverage and a willingness by some on a local forum to go politician bashing disregarding the completely negative effects this produces.

Where does this leave us?

With a number of separate issues  all worthy of debate but which if taken as a whole just confuse the situation.

So let's try and cut this knot.

Should deputies be paid to serve?

No, they should be paid to do the job of representing the people of Guernsey. The days of service are over. We need a professional approach with professional salaries.

Should being a deputy be a part time job?

No, I believe the time has come to recognise that to do the job well, you need to devote all of your working time, just as one would in the private sector. 
If you’re not willing to do that then offer your part time services for free if you still want to be involved. That should keep the “serve your Island” brigade happy.

Wouldn't this mean paying deputies more if they’re full time ?

Probably, but we might not need so many, particularly if we recognise that we are a very small island and we're quite capable of coping with Island wide voting.

But what about Guernsey tradition?

Is it helping the Island forward or holding it back? I suggest in this case the latter.

But we're supposedly talking about a pay rise not a change of governance
No, we're talking about the effect of something agreed well before now and which deputies have no control over in terms of the figure reached. Remember, this is what we wanted; we didn't want deputies agreeing their own wages, we wanted some independent body to get involved.

But is it right for them to take a rise now?
It does seem a bit rich to take a rise while budgets are being cut but as just said, it's not their decision.

Their decision as individuals is whether to accept it or not but if I was a deputy trying to do this as a full time job I might not be in a position to refuse whereas the fictional deputy portrayed by some who does the minimal work, gets paid in the private sector for their real job(s) and/or is wealthy enough to make a popular and public gesture as it won't affect their finances or lifestyle.

So who is the moral one in that scenario?

If the system for  increasing deputies salaries is correct then they should take the money. If it isn't then they should review the system.

My own view is that any “cost of living” rise should be the same across the entire public sector, from Chief Minister all the way down to the part time cleaner who washes out the toilets. Therefore the system is wrong.

But, I also think that the level of salary for deputies needs looking at together with the whole job description, as I've argued above.

Where does that leave us?
Sadly, no further forward but at least I’ve tried to make things a bit clearer.






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