The Government of the Canadian Province of Alberta is calling on Public Servants to accept a four per cent pay cut this year followed by three years of no increases.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) said it was handed the ‘offer’ from the Government, which had originally been seeking just a one per cent rollback.
The AUPE said it was yet another example of how the Government was showing its contempt for workers.
Vice President of the AUPE, Kevin Barry said Albertans had been relying on public sector workers more than ever during the economic crisis caused by the collapse of oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“AUPE members provide social supports and access to income supports,” Mr Barry said.
“They keep us safe in their work as peace officers and they are risking their lives from exposure to the COVID-19 virus in correctional and remand centres,” he said.
“Our members have literally kept Government running during this crisis, but their reward is to be attacked,” the Vice President of the AUPE said.
Minister for Finance, Travis Toews said the unions had asked for a five per cent wage increase, even though the Province was dealing with a $C24 billion ($A25.1 billion) deficit.
“The mandate presented to the union reflects the Province’s current economic and fiscal reality,” Mr Toews said.
“The Government is asking unionised Public Service employees to be part of the solution, as we face the worst economic crisis in nearly a century,” he said.
Pointing out that Premier, Jason Kenney, Members of the Legislative Assembly and political staff had all taken pay cuts, Mr Toews said wages were the Government’s largest expense.
“The Government is committed to delivering core services more cost effectively to ensure those services are sustainable into the future,” the Minister said.
Opposition Leader, Rachel Notley said the proposed cut “reflects a pattern with this Government”.
“They go to people they are asking to come into work each and every day, often in exceptionally dire circumstances, many of whom are not earning that much, who work very, very hard, and they say those folks have to pay for their failures when it comes to managing our books and kick-starting a robust economic recovery,” Ms Notley said.
Edmonton, 9 November 2020
