Members clash over 25-cent pay raise

Members of the Iqaluit District Education Authority debated at some length this week about whether to pay their new office manager an hourly wage of $19.75 or $20.

The 25-cent difference would add a few hundred dollars in the office manager’s yearly income.

The discussion came after the IDEA’s hiring committee recruited a new office manager to replace a longtime employee who resigned last month.

“There were four applicants to the office manager position,” reads the introduction to a draft motion. “One applicant withdrew from the competition, one applicant failed to show to the interview, one applicant was interviewed in person and one applicant was interviewed by phone.”

The pay increase was meant by the hiring committee “to reflect the experience of the candidate,” however, some members said the IDEA should not be quite so free with school funds.

The motion to increase the office manager’s wage by 25 cents passed.