UTE response to the CBC News Article "Federal workers` buyouts could reach $2B"
March 15, 2012
To all UTE Members
Once again, CBC targets federal public service employees in its article entitled ``Federal workers` buyouts could reach $2B`` and as usual, the Canadian Taxpayers` Federation has jumped on the bandwagon to further tarnish the public perception of federal public service employees and their Unions. The PSAC was quick to respond in several fora, including the CBC program, ``Power and Politics``, which was broadcast on March 13, 2011.
In defending our members, Brother Gordon aptly pointed out that the provisions of our Work Force Adjustment articles are a negotiated provision of our collective agreements and that the main objective of these provisions are to maintain employment as much as possible for federal public sector workers. Additionally, he pointed out that our WFA provisions provided for transitionary and other such measures, including pay in lieu of the unfulfilled surplus period for employees affected by the government`s decision to downsize the public service, a decision made solely by the Harper government.
Strangely enough, even Treasury Board President, Tony Clement, was quick to set the record straight. When interviewed by CBC, Clement reaffirmed that the work force adjustment provisions were indeed a result of long-standing contract negotiations between the parties and committed the Government to abiding by these negotiated provisions. While this is somewhat heartening, Clement refused to disclose any details surrounding the government`s plans to reduce and/or eliminate certain public services.
Regrettably, what all parties omitted to reveal was that these work force adjustment provisions stemmed from a contract legislated by the government at the time as a result of the 1991 Public Service Strike. Additionally, it was not reported that following this strike, federal public service workers were subjected to a seven year wage restraint.
While CBC and the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation also claim that these “buyouts” (as they refer to the work force adjustment provisions) could reach $2 Billion, they could offer little in the way of reasonable and logical explanation to justify their costing. Clement clearly explained to CBC that the government was not prepared to disclose which positions and/or services are to be downsized and Brother Gordon advised that the Unions were not in possession of this information. Both Gordon and Clement also pointed out that on average, approximately 11,000 workers leave the public service annually through attrition, a fact clearly not taken into account by the CBC and Canadian Taxpayers’ Foundation in their calculations. (But then again, when did they ever let fact get in the way of garnering readers, viewers and followers!)
Rest assured, the Union of Taxation Employees and the PSAC will continue to monitor the situation and will remain in the forefront in defending the rights, interests and entitlements of our members.
In solidarity,
Bob Campbell
National President