PSAC demands not out of line
Editor:
My name is Michelle Nation, and I work with the Federal Government Indigenous Service Canada. I work with First Nations, helping them access health care, and approving benefits which are not covered through the provincial government. My job is fast paced and continually changing. I love working there, as I am able to help my clients navigate through the Health Care System.
I am writing to express my support for the Federal Government General Strike.
I am in the PSAC Union and our bargaining team has been trying to negotiate a fair deal with the Government for just about two years. Our contract expired in June of 2021. PSAC members everywhere are feeling the effect. With the high inflation rate, outrageous prices at grocery stores and gas stations, we are seeing our dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to. The employer’s offer is well below the rate of inflation and that would mean a real wage cut for the more than 155,000 workers. The rising cost of living is impacting all of us.
Building an inclusive public service should be a top priority for this government, but they have refused our calls for mandatory training on anti-racism, discrimination and harassment for federal workers and managers. We’ve seen that from the Black Class Action and Indigenous Class Action lawsuits already underway that there is institutional and systemic racism and discrimination in the public service.
Contracting out is eroding the public services that Canadians depend on, making work more precarious for our members. Privatizing public services always cost Canadians more while delivering less. That is why we are pushing to end contracting out and fighting for good, secure public service jobs.
When the food inflation rate for basic groceries has gone above 10 per cent for nearly a year, with no end in sight, an extra $100 a paycheque can make all the difference for our members who are struggling to make ends meet. We feel that is 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. The average annual salary for PA members, which is our largest bargaining group, is about $68,000. Our wage proposal of 4.5 per cent per year works out to an increase of less than $12 per day, or $1.40 per hour for these workers.