Dear editor,
I find it real annoying and insulting to read letters to the editor that are published for reading, written without any research.
These letters mention that management salaries have to be re-evaluated.
If letter writers would have done their research, they would have noticed in the 2011 union wage summary of BC Ferries that was posted on the web showed that over 900 union employees made a salary of over $75,000 in wages with a generous, taxpayer-funded benefit plan.
They would have also noticed that 262 union employees were paid a total of $2,268,565 in short-term incentive pay, in other words, bonuses.
Today's present rate of pay for a gift shop cashier on the ferry is $24.49 per hour, ticket attendant at boarding booth, $24.85 per hour, coffee shop attendant, $23.35 per hour, and a third cook, 27.51 per hour. That's right, not first cook.
Present rate of pay under the United Steelworkers' contract for a sawmill green chain worker is $25.93 per hour and a logging chokerman is paid a rate of $26.94. Both of these United Steelworkers jobs are dangerous on a daily basis.
What has happened to fair criticisms of listing all factors on the table before making bogus comments?
Amazing how propaganda statements remains in the minds of the readers. Unbelievable!
Joe Sawchuk,
Duncan