DWP workers among highest paid

Claims by workers at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power that they deserve double-digit raises to keep their salaries competitive with the private sector are unfounded, according to the LA Times:

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power officials say they need to offer employees a union contract that could boost salaries by as much as 34% over five years to remain competitive with other utilities.

But the city's utility already has a higher pay scale for key positions than three of the four other major utilities in the state. And agency officials admit they did not research how their salaries compared with other utilities before recommending the raises.