Durham city employees plead for higher pay in tense discussion at city hall

The Durham City Council took up bonuses for city employees on Thursday.

A previous strike by sanitation employees brought a new level of attention to the topic, and that came after pushes from Durham police and fire departments for higher pay.

Now, City Manager Wanda Page came up with a $6.5 million plan for more money for the workers. City Councilors eventually agreed to request staff to rework the numbers for larger bonuses for lower paid employees and smaller bonuses for those at the higher end of the pay scale.

An agreement was effectively reached on the $6.5 million total, but city councilors felt the city manager's specific plan needed some restructuring. The issue will come up again at the next meeting.

The most any single employee would receive under the plan is $3,000, and some say it's still not enough. Sanitation employees came to ask for bonuses again at a tense meeting in City Hall.

One mayoral candidate, Charlitta Burrus, worked to unite the City Council chambers in song.

"You're all a part of God's body. Stand with me," Burrus sang.

Employees from the Durham Police Department joined the sanitation workers in asking for raises.

"None of us are saying that we need to be rich," said We just want to be paid enough to not have to constantly worry about the next paycheck." said Natalia Fernandes with Durham police.

"You want the community to have community based policing, which would include officers living in that community and being a part of that community that they work and police in. however, these prices are something that is just not affordable," Fernandes said.

Members of the community were also there to support the push for more pay.

"How can any of you claim you worship God and treat your people like the garbage they're picking up," said Rafiq Zaidi.

Page proposed $3,000 bonuses for employees making less than $57,000 and $2,500 to employees making between $57,000 and $90,000. A proposed bonus of $2,000 was pitched for employees who make more than $90,000. Part-time employees could receive bonuses of $1,000.

The lively discussion continued as the meeting lasted for roughly five hours.