What if you had an emergency and called 911 and no one answered?
This is not a scenario that will likely happen in New Albany but it is something to think about.
There were several members of the Communications Department in attendance at the last City Council meeting and many spoke about their working conditions. These loyal employees work for long hours and not a lot of pay ($13.21 an hour). This may sound like a good salary until you compare this to the $20.00 per hour earned by the Communications workers in Clark County.
Why should Floyd County employees work for nearly $7.00 per hour less than people doing the identical job in our neighboring county?
The 911 Communications Supervisor Cathy Wicke was present at the Budget Meeting a few weeks ago and advised that their department voluntarily gave up their salary increase for this year. This was their decision for the good of the city.
Ms.Wicke additionally stated that she frequently works 2nd and 3rd shift to cover for absentee employees. This is to keep overtime costs down.
Could you visualize Mr. Garner making that kind of sacrifice?
Mayor Garner, you budgeted a 6% raise for yourself but then agree to reduce your raise to 3% which is the amount the rest of the City Employees were budgeted.
Do you realize the raise budgeted for the 911 Communication Workers still keeps them behind everyone else in salary? Their salary increase was based on their 2005 salary and everyone else's including yours was based on the 2006 salary.
Freedom of Speech believes you should follow the example of your 911 Communications Department and give up the salary increase you budgeted for yourself and others.
Would you do their job for $13.21 an hour?
And where do you get off Mr. Mayor saying to the 911 operators "you all just threw me under the bus." Well thump...thump...to you Mr. Mayor. Now how does it feel to have tire tracks on your back!
You Sir, take good care of the New Albany Police and Fire Department. Now it's time to negotiate a fair contract with our 911 Communication Workers.
Freedom Of Speech supports the 911 operators.
And we also believe the 911 Communication Workers deserve a new and better contract which would provide wage increases and additional benfits to each employee.
We feel the 911 operators are worth every dollar we pay them and more for the hard work, long hours and quick decisions you operators make.
Freedom Of Speech and the many citizens of New Albany say "thank you" to the 911 Communication Workers for a job well done!
