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How to really lift morale

| August 8, 2010 9:00 PM

No stone-throwing here. No barbs, bruises or snide remarks borne of pecuniary jealousy.

Just a simple request.

Officials and members of the three unions contracted with Coeur d'Alene, when city officials try to convince you that you should all take a 1 percent pay raise this year instead of the 3 percent your contracts guarantee, tell them no.

Tell them zero.

We know that for the good of the citizens who pay your wages, you willingly waived the entire 3 percent raise a year ago. We're asking you to do so again. And we believe you don't need much convincing, just a little bit of encouragement and a measure of respect.

You live here, work here, play here. You go to the same grocery store where the lady from down the street has to leave several items with the checker because she cannot afford them. You see some of the kids in the neighborhood whose clothes are a little more ragged than they should be, even at summer's zenith. You hear the husband and wife yelling at each other late at night, and you know that even if it is not the cause of their dispute, financial stress is magnifying it.

Times are hard. For many of your neighbors, they are harder than they've ever been. And there's a chance, maybe a good one, that times are going to get tougher before they get better.

We believe the city of Coeur d'Alene is one of the best-run communities anywhere. You, the employees who make that happen, should be proud.

When city officials tell you they're concerned about your morale and offer you a 1 percent raise as a token of their appreciation for your dedication and professionalism, please, smile and shake your head "no."

Tell them you're more concerned about the morale of your neighbors, your children's teachers, of all the taxpayers. Tell them you're grateful your pay is not getting cut, your job is not being tossed on the scrapheap. Tell them the magic number again is zero.