PSAC members standing up for their rights

Editor:

EAs most readers are aware, many federal government workers have gone on strike. PSAC members everywhere are feeling squeezed alongside everyone else. Every day, we see that our dollar doesn’t go as far at the grocery store or at the gas pump.

People are taking on debt and making sacrifices just to make ends meet. The employer’s current offer – averaging 2.06% – would mean a real wage cut for more than 155,000 workers despite this government knowing that the rising cost of living and inflation is impacting all of us.

The average annual salary for our PA members, which is our largest bargaining group is about $68,000. Our wage proposal of 4.5% per year works out an increase of less than $12 a day, or $1.40 an hour, for these workers. When the food inflation rate for basic groceries has been above 10 per cent for nearly a year, an extra $100 a paycheque can make all the difference for our members who are struggling — and we believe that’s an entirely reasonable demand. For some of our members on the lower end of the pay scale, we’re talking about wages that don’t even meet the threshold to be considered a living wage.

Contracting out is eroding the public services Canadians depend on, making work more precarious for our members. Privatizing public services always costs Canadians more while delivering less.

That’s why we’re pushing to end contracting out and fighting for good, secure public service jobs

I urge readers to contact their Member of Parliament and urge them to return to the bargaining table with fair wage increases for public service workers. We are your family members, and your neighbours, and we want to get back to work to provide you with the government services you count on.

Cory Black

Central Alberta