41 pay raises given after city layoffs

Several members of New Haven Mayor John DeStefano's executive staff will be receiving a pay raise. Some are getting a double digit pay increase even after the city's layoffs.

The news of these pay raises hurts Robyn Odei-Ntiri who was laid off after 19-years as a city employee

"I don't get that, not when they laid off us saying there was no money to keep us," said Odei-Ntiri. "How do you have the money for raises if you don't have money to keep your people who were long-time employees?"

In turn, 41 of the mayor's executive staff are getting raises. Among those seeing a pay hike is the fire and assistant fire chief, parks director, health director and chief administrative officer.

The Head of Human Resources Emmet Hibson said it's to recognize their hard work.

"The reality is this group gave back pay raises two years in a row," said Hibson.

It was February when the city laid off over 30 employees to help fill a budget hole. Two labor unions agreed to concessions, actually giving back their pay raises to save jobs. Now, Jack Mesner said the 70 blue-collar workers in his local union feel betrayed.

"They cried poor mouth to us and here they are taking the money we gave back," said Mesner.

The average raise is about three percent. But there are four people getting a double digit pay hike; including a 12 percent pay increase for a city lawyer.

"It was done to increase their wages along the lines of other people in the same class," Hibson said.

Meanwhile, Odei-Ntiri is still out of work. Her question to city hall is, "If you have money for pay raises, do you have money to bring us back; those of us that got laid off? Cause I would love my job back."

Some of those getting a pay raise already earn over $100,000 a year. And, the total amount of pay raises equals out to $111,000.

The pay raise is effective come next week's pay check.