By Brittany Kelly

Loyalist College administrators were given wage increases between two and 22 per cent last year despite the increase of 1.8 per cent in the consumer price index.
George Burton, the vice-president of enrolment management and student services at Loyalist, said the board of governors at the college determines the salary level for administration staff. According to a list of salaries of Ontario public servants who make more than $100,000, distributed to the college, Burton made $170,601.28 in 2007, a 22 per cent increase from his 2006 salary of $139,830.02. Burton said on Thursday that he personally has no problems with his salary being disclosed.
"The appropriate level of pay is determined by the system that we work within set by the (compensation and appointments) council. The council has put a value on the job that I do and set a salary range and I am paid within that range. So in that respect then it is fair," said Burton.
Burton said Loyalist students contribute a large portion of money for the salaries for college employees but he was unsure of the exact percentage of student tuition that is used for paying staff.
"So indirectly, students would contribute to the salaries of every employee at the college," said Burton.
Kevin Dove, the communications co-ordinator for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, said the board of governors for each individual college chooses what salary levels are appropriate for their staff.
"College board of governors are the ones that approve salary levels for staff at each of the colleges so it would likely differ from college to college," said Dove.
Bob Cottrell, the chair of the board of governors, said that he is unaware of the specific percentage increase in salaries for administration staff and that the province determines salaries.
"The board of governors makes the determination for the president's compensation. The administrative team would determine all of the salaries. We operate within a provincial framework and the college's compensation and appointments council determine that framework for compensation," said Cottrell.
Bernie Belanger, the union representative for OPSEU local 420 at Loyalist College, said he believes the salary increases are ridiculous and uses Loyalist President Maureen Piercy's salary as an example.
"Normally when faculty and support staff get a raise, the raise is always predicated on the cost of living index. If the cost of living is around three per cent, you know generally we would get three per cent and sometimes we do a bit better and get a percentage higher than the cost index," said Belanger.
"To see some of the administrators at this college get seven times the cost of living index I think it is unreasonable and I think most people would say that is completely unreasonable. The president of the college received a 14.42 per cent increase in 2007 and in 2006 she got 13 per cent, so over the last two years, she is at over a 28 per cent where the cost of living over those two years was about six or seven per cent."
Allan Ross, the vice-president of corporate services and the chief financial officer of Loyalist, said that tuition fees make up 19 per cent of the college's revenue and is the second greatest revenue for the school. Ross would not comment on any salary levels.
"I don't have any comment on that. All of the salaries for all of the groups in the organizations are set and reviewed provincially and so on and so forth," said Ross. "I don't know who makes the final call on salaries. I mean, there are provincial guidelines and the college works within those guidelines, but the specific decision making process I don't have a comment on that."
Belanger is clearly concerned about the college's approach to compensating administrators.
"Given that the college is under some financial constraints, the administration is not showing much constraint when getting pay raises," said Belanger.