I really don’t know why it is so hard for us to have a pay rate that takes into account cost-of-living issues. Nearly every other single larger employer out there has annual pay reviews, and/or provides cost-of-living pay increases. Typically you get an annual pay raise for service, which we do based on annual step increases to the contractual limit, 12 years or whatever.

On top of that, many employers offer pay increases based on CPI, usually rounded down to the nearest whole or half percent. 3.2% increase in CPI? You get a 3% pay hike. 4.8% increase? Ok, you get a 4.5% hike. CPI flat, say less than 1%? Maybe you get nothing other than your annual step increase, or a .5% hike. Not difficult.

Our corporate execs are on the record saying we’re doing great, we’ve been able to raise our ticket prices in step with the increases in costs, the public is willing to pay for more expensive tickets, etc. So if the company can increase the cost of tickets, why can’t we get a reasonable pay raise that doesn’t move us backwards?

How many c-suiters are making less today after inflation? I recall something about a $4 MILLION retention bonus, for crying out loud.