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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1982-02-10, Page 7II opinion L.4u.wr Scathed, Wednesday, February 10, 1922 Page 7 Separate school supporters oppose stand on salary issue To Our Fellow. Ratepayers, Huron -Perth Separate School. Board: We believe the time has come when the 'Ratepayers opinion should be heard on the issue of salary increases for our Director of Education and the Superintendent of Education. We note with disbelief and alarm the offers made by the Trustees who represent us of $49,500 for the Director, a 6.4% increase and $44,000 for the Superintendent, a 7.3%. increase were "respectfully • declined". The reasons given by the director were the offers did not keep pace with inflation and did not match on a percentage basis, increases given to other persons during the past three years. He also points out the salary -Of the director of education has fallen behind $7,000 in the actual cost of living in the past ten years and in the same time the superintendent's salary has fallen $2,400 behind. We have watched education costs ' in our system soar 700% in, twelve years. We are reminded almost daily by the leadersof our country that if we are going to prevent economic disaster "in our society we' must all be prepared to show restraint To beat inflation is our number, one goal, we are told. • We must accept high interest rates and record unemployment ' as ,a means of resolving the • inflation problem. Our country is in financial trouble and we must all do our part to help. Let us not talk about percentages, we all know how misleading this is. Let usnot talk about comparisons to the last three years or the last '10 years. We know that it was excessive wage demands during this period that contributed greatly to our crisis today. Let us talk about today. Statistics reveal one million Canadians are unemployed. Farmers and businessmen are fighting for . survival. Farmers must accept prices for their corn that not only do not match inflation but are 25 to 30% less than last year. Our people in the cities, particularly in the automotive, housing and farm machiherry industries face lay-offs, short hours and uncertain futures. Have our director and superintedent lost contact with the rest of society. Is it too much to ask of them to accept a 6.4% increase on a salary of S46,500 and a. 7.3% increase on • a salary' of 541,000? They seem to think so. Are they, exempt when our leaders ask us to all do our part? Is it too much to 'ask them, ' as men in positions of responsibility, to show some example? Does our society ask too much from them to live on salaries of $49,500 and $44,000?They have declined. this offer. We believe in light of today's economy that our trustees have made thein a very fair offer. We believe our trustees should stand firm on this issue and should our director and superintendent decide the offer should be again respectfully declined, then our trustees should ask them to respectfully resign. , o We also note, it was passed at the December meeting by a vote that was questionable, an increase of 20% on a $35,000 salary for the superintendent of business and finance. We believe the amount of this increase : is also completely unjustified. We appealto you, our fellow ratepayers to contact us with your views. Let us know if you believe the time has come for the ratepayers' opinion to be heard. Please call us now, time is important. We want to' add your name to a rapidly growing list. You may telephone us as (519) 345-2562. Signed: Concerned Rate -Payers, R. J. Maloney, R. R. p 5, Seaforth, Ont., Contractor, Joe Delaney, Dublin, Ontario, Farmer, Louis Maloney, Dublin, Ont., Feed Mill Owner, James F. Maloney, R. R. 5, Seaford), Ont., Farmer, Jerry Murray, P.O. Box 85, Dublin, Ont., Carpenter, Leon. Maloney, R. R. # 1 Dublin, Ont., Farmer, Fergus Kelly, R. R. 2, Dublin, Ont., Farmer. To the Editor: Having just returned from the NDP Leadership . Con- vention I wanted to share with your readers a song I've put together which captures the spirit of the Convention. Over 2600 :delegates • and alternates from many walks of life discussed our common: problems and developed our common •goals. The song is to the time of. "Glory, Glory Halleluiah or "Solidarity for Ever". . It is we who plowed the prairies, built the cities where they trade, Dug the mines and built the factories, endless miles o€ railroad laid; ' Now we• stand, outcast and starving, midst the wonders we have made, But together we are strong. • THE CLOSEST THING TO COST-FREE DRIVING Chorus We can learn to work together, We will learn to work together, We MUST Learn to work together, For together we are strong! They'll play one against the other and divide us if they can, Separate the working farmer from his fellow working man, And the wealthy just get richer if we let them use this plan, But together we are strong! Chorus I They have taken untold millions that they never toiled to earn, But without our brain and muscles not a 'single wheel can turn; We can break their haughty power, gain our freedom when we learn That together we are. strong. Chorus When the crushing weight of interest on our toiling backs, is laid, • • And the banker comes a calling repossessing what we've made, . f Then it's time to rise together and prevent his greedy raid, For together we are strong. Chorus • In our hands is placed a power greater than their hoarded gold, Greater than the might of atoms magnified: a thousand -fold; We can bring to birth a new world from the ashes of the old, FOR TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG! Chorus If any of your readers would like more information on the convention they are welcome to contact me. • . ' Tony McQuail, R. 1, Lucknow. U_:: -. Yvw-:lam t}•. h.:.:lv.n 4 .. . :�:. Q�•1k ti..i:\� .�: •. �'�.k� \ . \'