In light of the continued failures of Treasury Board to fix the Phoenix Pay System, PSAC’s National Board of Directors has once again endorsed a boycott of National Public Service Week (NPSW) events for 2017. Started in 2012 as a protest of the reckless cuts to public services, the boycott continues this year in recognition of those burned by Phoenix.
Additionally, Treasury Board has yet to sign off on the four collective agreements, which cover over 100,000 workers and were ratified in April. These agreements, which took over two and a half years to negotiate, do not go into effect until they are signed.
For 2017, NPSW will be held from June 11–17. This event marks the importance of federal public service employees and recognizes their service to Canadian society. We know that managers are required to report on activities to upper management and it sends a strong message to indicate that no members attended.
We have the utmost respect for our members and the work they do, and for public service workers of all stripes. That’s why it’s especially important that we do not participate in these events, which claim to “honour” public service workers while pushing Phoenix problems to the side and putting off signing new collective agreements.
Area Councils, Locals and Regional Offices throughout the Prairie Region and across the country are calling the employer on their hypocrisy and standing up to let this government know that we refuse to play nice anymore. Instead of attending the employer events, we’re encouraging locals to hold their own events.
It’s also a good opportunity to reach out MPs and let them know how you feel. We have an opportunity to make our voices heard. Let’s use NPSW to send a message to our elected politicians of all stripes.
It’s time for this government to puts its money where its mouth is and demonstrate real respect, rather than empty gestures. Boycott National Public Service Week activities in your workplace and encourage your coworkers to do the same.
Sincerely,
Marianne Hladun
Regional Executive Vice-President
Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairies