CANADA
The Canadian Provincial Government of Alberta has imposed a delay on pay talks with its public sector employees until 31 October.
Premier, Jason Kenney denied that the passing of the Public Sector Wage Arbitration Deferral Act was the first step in a wage freeze, saying the Government needed time to “get a better idea” of the Province’s finances.
However, public sector unions suspect the Government is planning to introduce massive cuts to spending in the autumn Budget that will result in legislated wage rollbacks, if not outright job losses.
The unions believe the United Conservative Government does not want to admit bad news before the Federal Election for fear of controversy causing a backlash against the Federal Conservatives on the campaign trail.
President of the Alberta Union of Public Employees, Guy Smith (pictured) said the Government was guilty of “bad faith bargaining”.
“It’s outrageous and further proof the Government has no respect for working Albertans or the law,” Mr Smith said.
His union, along with those representing nurses and teachers, has launched a court challenge to the legislation.
The Government insists it is acting responsibly by not rushing into contract talks before hearing back from a Government-appointed panel investigating the state of the Province’s finances.
That panel is due to report back in the middle of August, but the Government won’t be releasing the report then and won’t have a Budget ready until well into the northern autumn.
Edmonton, 28 June 2019
