A proposal that the province consider unpaid days off for government employees to balance the books is being met with a negative response by the province’s unions.
The government is facing a $1.2 billion dollar deficit and Premier Brad Wall has stated “everything is on the table” to address the situation.
The idea of public sector workers taking monthly unpaid days off to deal with the deficit has circulated in the media in recent days. But CUPE, the province’s largest public sector union, has made clear they oppose the idea of monthly unpaid days off.
“The provincial government’s latest attack on workers’ income will do little to balance the budget, but will hurt the working people of this province, and the people who depend on the public services we provide,” said Tom Graham, president of CUPE Saskatchewan, in a statement.
“Cuts to working people’s wages are just going to mean less spending money in the pockets of Saskatchewan families and won’t actually help the economy recover.”
CUPE says the plan represents a five-percent wage rollback for their workers. As for the province’s deficit woes, CUPE blames government spending for that.
“We have a revenue problem today because of this government’s reckless spending,” said Graham. “They have sold off or given away sources of revenue, buried us in expensive P3 and lean contracts, and now the only solution they have for a situation they created is to punish frontline workers.”
The Saskatchewan Government Employees Union has also slammed the idea. In a news release, the union stated the move would send shocks through Saskatchewan’s economy.
“We need to be clear that what government is proposing is a pay cut, not just a day off once a month,” said SGEU President Bob Bymoen in a news release.
“And what do people do when they are making less money than they were last year? They hold on to their paychecks and hold off on renovations, retail and service spending, charitable giving – they spend less in our local economies and at small businesses. How is that going to improve Saskatchewan’s economy? It’s not.”
Bymoen also expressed concern about the impact on services. “Are they asking social workers to just not show up for a day, when their workloads are already unmanageable? Are children who need protection, or patients who need treatment, or drivers who need plowed roads supposed to just wait an extra day?”
The NDP opposition have also been quick to slam the idea.
“This mean-spirited cut is just the latest example of the Sask. Party forcing Saskatchewan people to pay the price for Sask. Party mismanagement, scandal and waste,” said NDP jobs critic Warren McCall in a statement.
McCall also took aim at remarks from finance minister Kevin Doherty that aired in the media on the proposal.
“A cut is a cut is a cut. The Minister says that this move would take and this move would save $132 million a year. Well, that’s also $132 million right out the pockets of Saskatchewan workers and $132 million less to stimulate the Saskatchewan economy.” McCall said.
"Frankly, it’s unbelievable that the Sask. Party would even consider forcing something so damaging onto Saskatchewan people at a time when our economy is already suffering.”
