OTTAWA - The gloves appear to be off between the federal government and one of its largest unions. Treasury Board President Tony Clement slammed the leaders of the Public Service Alliance of Canada for being "unconstructive and self-serving" in a letter Clement wrote this week to PSAC president John Gordon.
In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by QMI Agency, Clement said he had hoped that the union, which represents more than 150,000 mostly federal government workers, would come up with their own ideas to help the government find $4 billion a year in savings.
"To date, I have not received a single constructive recommendation from you as to how we can make the federal government more efficient and provide better value for taxpayers," Clement wrote.
Union officials said they were surprised by the tone of the letter and that it further heightens tensions between the government and its employees.
"He's sent this missile and now I guess the gloves are off," Gordon said in an interview Wednesday. "His letter to me is irrational. He's got to grow up."
But Clement accuses Gordon and PSAC's leadership of "narrow self-interest," noting that "the executive has more money available to it if it can increase the number of public service jobs."
Clement also argues PSAC leaders are now doing the bidding of the government's chief political opponent, the NDP.
"The policies of higher taxes and endless deficits (are) advocated by the NDP Opposition, with which the PSAC executive is now affiliated through the Canadian Labour Congress," Clement said. "We intend to respect the democratic mandate provided by the Canadian people."
Clement's letter, mailed this week, was in response to one Gordon had written Oct. 28. In that letter, a copy of which was also obtained by QMI Agency, Gordon asks for a meeting with Clement and also asks for "an end to the secrecy surrounding decisions made about cuts to public services and jobs."
Clement leads a select sub-committee of mostly cabinet ministers which is taking a line-by-line look at federal government programs to decide what can be chopped.
Clement notes that the main point of Gordon's letter seems to be that Canadians should "have their say" on those plans.
Clement replies: "With respect, the Canadian people have indeed had their say on this issue and, in doing so, recently gave the government a parliamentary majority on a platform of our low-tax plan for growth."
Moreover, Clement goes on to say, "The measures being considered by the government ... are in the real interests of both your union members and the public alike."
Origin
Source: Canoe.ca
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