The University of British Columbias student council could rubber stamp a pay raise of up to $7,500 a year for executive members at its last meeting before the fall session begins.
Wednesday nights agenda includes a proposal to increase salaries from $25,000 to $27,500. Those who meet the to-be-determined criteria would also receive a $5,000 performance bonus.
Alma Mater Society of UBC Vancouver president Jeremy McElroy, who is part of the five-member executive committee, said he had no part in drafting the proposal, which arose after the minimum wage was hiked last spring. Executives have been very hands-off through this process, McElroy said. The executives had noting to do with this proposal and will be absenting ourselves from the vote. Its not from us, its been a review from the board of directors. The wage relative to the work that we do has always been small.
Two-thirds of council must agree to the Legislative Procedures Committee recommendation. The same is needed to pass a proposal to increase hourly wages for AMS Services staff. Those who make $8.50 an hour would get a $2 an hour increase. Others who make $11.54 would top out at $12.25.
Council can do whatever it wants, McElroy said. Given the nature of the executive remuneration always being a touchy subject it might very well see the presentation, deliberate a little bit and vote to defer so they can discuss it further.
McElroy said the committee researched student council executive pay for campuses in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. He claimed the performance bonus measure would help bring more accountability.
In March, 13,574 AMS membersalmost 29 percent of total membershipvoted 52.2 percent in favour of an increase in AMS fees from $80 to $99. An April bid to raise executive salaries was shelved. Executive members also receive a $75 monthly credit towards their mobile phone bills so they can use a smartphone and have access to $1,500 in professional development funding.
McElroy said executives are technically salaried managers, dont qualify for employment insurance, and delay fulfilling their degrees because they drop all but one course of study. He said he is usually clocking 60 hours a week.
The AMS owns and operates an extensive array of businesses and claims to employ 400 students. It provides a wide range of services including clubs, tutoring, bus passes, a food bank and political advocacy.
