Don’t pick on the public service
Re: Pandemic sees one set of rules for public servants, and another for everyone else, July 29.
Thousands of federal public servants are working each day amid the myriad pressures brought on by the global health pandemic. They are doing their jobs from makeshift home offices or the kitchen table. They are carrying out their professional responsibilities while balancing the pressures of work, children at home, caring for aging family members and coping with the uncertainty of when this pandemic will end.
Sadly and all too predictably, columnist Randall Denley opts for the tired and stereotypical portrait of public servants gaming the system, being paid “to look after their kids and watch Netflix.” No doubt that sort of gross caricature always plays well to a certain audience, likewise Denley’s call for “a more equitable approach” (i.e. layoffs).
The goal of beating the pandemic and restoring a sense of normalcy to society will not be served by seeking to demonize one segment of society.
Michael Kaczorowski, Ottawa
Why is it always a race to the bottom?
Perhaps Randall Denley should have argued that the private sector should be treated as well as the public, and not the other way around. Why is it always a race to the bottom? He doesn’t argue about how millionaire CEOs should try harder to keep their employees employed. Maybe he gets some sort of joy in seeing public servants laid off ? It happened under the Harper government and the public service is still recovering.
The government still needs to function, and public servants are making it happen. Everyone deserves some sort of job security. Stop arguing for the opposite.
Maybe the Ottawa Citizen needs to lay off some non-essential opinion heads? Oh, it’s all fun to call for layoffs when it doesn’t apply to you.
Jason Lutes, Ottawa
Public servants didn’t ‘choose’ this
An overwhelming majority of public servants did not “choose” to be on leave. It was because their employer was unable to provide them with the tools to enable them to work safely.
On the contrary, thousands of public servants have been working extremely hard despite very limited access to government networks, forcing many to work very early in the morning and late at night. Moreover, thousands of others have never stopped reporting to their workplace, putting their own health and safety and that of their loved ones at risk. All of this to continue to deliver critical services.
Secondly, pandemic aside, the very idea that public service should function like the private sector is ludicrous. The government offers essential services to all Canadians, especially in time of crisis.
Our country is stronger when we have a strong, competent and well-funded public service.
History has shown several times that cuts in the public service directly affect the Canadian public and the services they rely on every day.
Charles Nellis, Vanier