Tree laborer is a dangerous municipal job, he added.
“These people are on call 24/7. They are asked to go out during inclement weather for fallen trees."
The highest the warden can offer these new experienced laborers is $16 an hour, a wage Collasius called “dismal and deplorable” as well as a great contributor to the high employee turnover rate for the position.
“It’s a long-term problem preventing the department from functioning in a reliable manner.”
It was previously reported that the Department has a massive backlog of work due to staffing shortages and COVID-related restrictions.
Collasius is asking for a wage increase of $17.50 and $18.30 an hour for the two new employees he wants to hire. These numbers, according to him, are still roughly 25% less than the industry standard for the work involved.