Both firefighters and police officers showed up to the regular city council meeting in Charlotte Monday night. The groups wanted to make sure council members know how important a significant raise is for their families. "I don't think that"s unfair at all for the people who serve and protect the city of Charlotte to get a fair wage for a day's work," firefighter Tom Brewer said. Sergeant Jim Wilson with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police added, "for the past five years we have done more with less. During this time our pay has fallen behind. We are asking [council] to bring us back to average."
Sanitation workers also gathered at Monday's meeting to ask city council for increases in pay and health benefits.
The demand from those living and working in apartment complexes related to garbage pick-ups. Last year, budget cuts trimmed garbage pick-ups at apartments and condos from two times a week to once. Annette Gee, who runs an East Charlotte complex, said once a week isn't nearly enough. "It is unsanitary. It's nasty, very nasty. You would want them to pick up twice a week. There's garbage sitting outside the dumpsters.
City council members will vote on the proposed budget at the end of June.
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