This National Public Service Week, we celebrate and thank public service workers for everything they do to support people across Canada.
We all rely on public services to be there when we need them: to get the benefits we’ve earned, keep our food safe, protect our communities, and respond when disaster strikes. And in times of growing instability, they’re what people in Canada count on most, delivering the security so many of us take for granted.
We know none of it happens on its own; it’s delivered by you, dedicated public service workers in every community.
But instead of supporting workers like you, Prime Minister Carney’s government is asking you to do more, with less. Over 24,000 public service workers have been put on notice that they may lose their jobs. Millions of dollars are being slashed from government departments, meaning fewer resources to do your job efficiently and safely.
Your colleagues, or even you, are now facing the uncertainty of losing your job, carrying a heavier workload when teammates are let go, or wondering what will happen to the quality of the services you work so hard to deliver.
On top of this, Prime Minister Carney is dead set on spending more money on a four-day in-office mandate when expanding remote work could save up to $4 billion. The contradiction is baffling. The government says it needs to cut costs, while simultaneously spending more money on office space; funds that could be used to keep more public service workers in place.
It is very hard to feel valued when your employer would rather cut your job than let you work remotely.
To add insult to injury, this government’s disrespect to public service workers has continued at the bargaining table. Under federal law, a statutory freeze applies during negotiations. Increasing the in-office mandate to four days was not only frustrating, it also undermines your collective bargaining rights.
And if that wasn’t enough, after months of waiting for an answer to our wage proposal, Treasury Board made an insulting offer of less than 1% per year. Workers deserve more than a yearly pizza party to thank them for the work they do; they deserve fair wages that keep up with the cost of living.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We can build a stronger Canada by investing in public services that work for everyone. Together, we can show Prime Minister Carney that it is time to change course, stop the cuts, and make our vision of a stronger Canada a reality.
This National Public Service Week, ignore the government’s empty promises and insincere hot dogs and veggie burgers. Instead, take the time to connect with your colleagues, talk about the bargaining issues, mobilize for the fight ahead, and join your union in celebrating your hard work.
To all public service workers: thank you for the work you do to support us and our families. The work you do is invaluable. You keep Canada running. We’ll keep fighting for you.
Join us in the fight to protect public services: ForYouCanada.ca
This article was first published on the PSAC website.
