City discloses employee compensation

[Rhettzky]

Pension is great but workers contribute into it out of pay as well. It's close to 50/50 as far as pension contribution goes.

Wage is tough to compare because about 90% of those ranges are for 35 hour work week.

Beyond that the benefits are great and the level of employee development is very good. Work life balance is very important and promoted. Health and well being is a big focus as well. Benefits are the best I've had in my career.

I've worked at the City for close to ten years and don't find it toxic or anything. It's been a great career choice for a guy with a young family.

[V]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

This is so far from reality though!

City employee turnout is very low at ALL levels (educated/non-educated, management/unions, office/field). They do move around a lot within the organization, as the City promotes it, but they don't leave the City much at all. There is a good reason for it - they are very well compensated and they can rarely find better overall compensation package in the private employment market. Short hours, good longevity/loyalty rewards, great benefits, good child care, additional pension benefits, almost 100% market-insulated job security. This by far outweighs a few extra bucks offered by some private industries when economy is doing well.

Yup, I work for a municipally owned utility, so I have all the perks and a little more pay, but I would take less pay for the stability, work/life balance and pension any day of the week. Plus, being in a profit centre I have the ability to work with challenges similar to the private sector without as much stress.

It's a great gig. There's a reason most City workers are lifers.

[Johnny199r]

I just quit my job with the government of Alberta. My contribution level to my pension, I think was 1/3, possibly 1/2.

I could care less about the pension, I feel that I can make 8% annually in the stock market long term. I'm in my early 30s and am a disciplined saver and investor. Many of my co-workers lacked those qualities and placed too much reliance at the thought of a pension over happiness in my opinion.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

Pension is great but workers contribute into it out of pay as well. It's close to 50/50 as far as pension contribution goes.

Wage is tough to compare because about 90% of those ranges are for 35 hour work week.

Beyond that the benefits are great and the level of employee development is very good. Work life balance is very important and promoted. Health and well being is a big focus as well. Benefits are the best I've had in my career.

I've worked at the City for close to ten years and don't find it toxic or anything. It's been a great career choice for a guy with a young family.

50/50 isn't the question though, it's the full DB nature of the pension that is going to draw ire. Those are slowly (or maybe not so slowly) disappearing.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Slava

50/50 isn't the question though, it's the full DB nature of the pension that is going to draw ire. Those are slowly (or maybe not so slowly) disappearing.

It's all part of the total compensation equation that was being discussed. So it was in turn the question. Not sure what ire you are talking about either. It's all about choices and if someone chooses to work at a place that offers reduced pay compared to industry standard in order to get a pension, why would anyone be upset?

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by polak

Yup. One of the guys I graduated with got hired on by the city. He was bummed out at first cause as buyer straight out of Uni, for the city he was making $21/hr an hour while those of us who got jobs in O&G (like 90% of the class that year) were making between 50 and 60 K a year.

It's still like that. City of Calgary Buyers start at low-mid $50s while O&G buyers typically start mid-high $60s.



OP isn't really news though. Look at any of the City of Calgary job postings, check out this salary structure, or flip through the CUPE bargaining agreement and you'll see all of the City of Calgary's pay grades.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

It's all part of the total compensation equation that was being discussed. So it was in turn the question. Not sure what ire you are talking about either. It's all about choices and if someone chooses to work at a place that offers reduced pay compared to industry standard in order to get a pension, why would anyone be upset?

I should've clarified that the ire would be from a few (likely the same people who think that having names on this list is useful) and I have no issue. But that's what some people here are pointing to and saying it should be factored in. From what I see though it's a question of when you want that money, today or in your retirement.

All I was getting at though is that your post implied that workers paid 50/50 for the pension, so it's no different than elsewhere, but there is a significant point of departure there.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Slava

All I was getting at though is that your post implied that workers paid 50/50 for the pension, so it's no different than elsewhere, but there is a significant point of departure there.

That's a fair point. I probably didn't explain what I meant very well. City workers pay close to 10% of the salaries listed on that chart into the pension. So I was just pointing out that you can't really strictly add the pension as there is an employee contribution in there as well.

[polak]

Originally Posted by boogerz

It's still like that. City of Calgary Buyers start at low-mid $50s while O&G buyers typically start mid-high $60s.

Yeah but one of the first departments to go in cuts is Procurement so job security would be a big plus.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

Wow a Crain driver can make up to $71,000 while a bus driver can make up to $65,000.

Surprised that a c-train driver does not make more.

Technically the two are the same position (transit operator). LRT operators make more because of a position premium, 5-10% depending on experience.

Originally Posted by GGG

Bus driver is way higher stress, and really higher risk. Seems to me that the ctrain should be paid less

I just started driving trains and the two have different stressors. The primary stress when driving a bus is traffic, which you have no control over. Most passengers are fine to deal with, but the less than 1% who are difficult can be a huge drain.

Driving a train is more technical and requires a lot more concentration. Not everyone has the right make up to drive a train which is why only about 50% of drivers who go trough training are successful.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Cuz

Driving a train is more technical and requires a lot more concentration. Not everyone has the right make up to drive a train which is why only about 50% of drivers who go trough training are successful.

Disagree. None of the trains in Vancouver have drivers/operators. They magically just go from stop to stop, and people get on and off them.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Disagree. None of the trains in Vancouver have drivers/operators. They magically just go from stop to stop, and people get on and off them.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the skytrain doesn't interact with pedestrian or vehicle traffic in any way, unlike 7 ave downtown. So it's not like a c-train operator simply pushes a button and sits there; there is actually a "driving" aspect, complete with traffic signals, speed limits, and idiots crossing when they shouldn't be...

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Correct me if I'm wrong but the skytrain doesn't interact with pedestrian or vehicle traffic in any way, unlike 7 ave downtown. So it's not like a c-train operator simply pushes a button and sits there; there is actually a "driving" aspect, complete with traffic signals, speed limits, and idiots crossing when they shouldn't be...

I was more just busting his chops with some snark.

As to your post, I think you are correct. The Canada Line, which I have taken many times, is almost entirely underground. There are a few points where it is above ground, but at those parts they are on elevated tracks, and do not interact with any traffic. I am not very familiar with the Sky Train, but I think they are on their own tracks and don't have to deal with pedestrians or cars either.