Council to write to Executive opposing possible £19,000 increase in MLA pay

Derry City and Strabane District councillors have agreed to write to the Executive voicing their concerns about a possible £19,000 increase in MLA pay.

The move followed a motion on the issue proposed at Wednesday’s full Council meeting by Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) and seconded by Cllr Raymond Barr (Independent).

Introducing his motion, Cllr Harkin said everyone should be “very concerned about the proposal to increase MLA pay by 38%, which amounted to a figure of between £19,000 and £20,000.

“The vast majority of people have not seen pay rises anywhere near this over the last decade. Even when there have been strikes, and successful strikes, over the last couple of years, people haven’t seen this type of pay rise,” said Cllr Harkin.

He added: “It is also the case that MLAs, in my opinion, are already very well paid in relation to the vast majority of people who are watching this discussion. 

“That is why, when you look at any poll that has been done, the results have shown that the overwhelming majority of people right across our society do not support a 38% or £20,000 pay increase for MLAs. When you go to the Working Class, it increases to above 80%. 

“So, if this becomes a reality, it will only have the support of a tiny number of people across all our communities. That is why I think we should not support this and we should send a message of concern to the Stormont Executive.

“If Stormont was actually delivering, if Stormont was functioning in a way that was delivering better health services, fixing the housing problem, doing something about mental health, dealing with out infrastructure problems which are getting worse by the day, and a whole host of other issues, it would have a good argument for saying, ‘We actually deserve a pay raise because we have followed through on our election promises and done something about all the things you care about’.

“But, the reality is the housing crisis is getting worse, the infrastructure problem is getting worse, the water pollution is getting worse every day and you don’t reward people who are failing to deliver,” said Cllr Harkin.

Sinn Féin Council leader Cllr Christopher Jackson, retorted the motion contained a number of “inaccuracies”.

He said: “It is my understanding MLA pay has absolutely nothing to do with the Stormont Executive. It is my understanding there is no such proposal. 

“But the motion is in front of us and to be fair to Cllr Harkin he has been very consistent around people voting for pay rise themselves and he joined with ourselves in rejecting pay rises for our own Council because it isn’t appropriate for people to be taking decisions on their own wages.

“It was disappointing members of this Council decided to do that and MLAs shouldn’t be in the same position. MLAs should have nothing to do with taking a decision on their own wages. 

“Whilst we would question the accuracy of the motion, the people that are best placed to answer is the Executive so we will support the writing of a letter raising the concerns and await the response,” said Cllr Jackson.

Cllr John Boyle (SDLP) said if accurate, a £20,000 pay rise for MLAs was not “sustainable”.

“The SDLP certainly would not attempt to stand over a pay rise of that magnitude. Magnitude I think is the appropriate word because it is a hell of a hike.”

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“If the figures were in fact true and I don’t know if they are or not, it would be a concern,” said Alderman Derek Hussey (UUP).

He added: “I hear this morning or yesterday that MPs will be receiving a pay rise up to £93,000. I think that’s the figure that has been mooted, so we should be writing to Westminster as well and complaining about their pay rise.”

DUP alderman Keith Kerrigan said his party would be voting against Cllr Harkins motion because MLA pay “is set independently”.

“It is not set by the MLAs and it’s not voted on by the MLAs.”

Cllr Harkn’s motion read: “Council will write to the Stormont Executive expressing our  concern at a possible 38%, £19,000, pay hike for Stormont MLAs who are already paid a basis salary of more than £51,000. 

“Stormont MLAs are already paid £20,000 more than the average industrial wage and way above the average wage in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area. 

Council notes a recent LucidTalk poll published in the Belfast Telegraph that found that an overall 77% majority of respondents disagreed with an increase, with outright opposition to the MLA pay hike increasing to 83% from working class poll respondents.”