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'If you're cutting back on the public service's spending power, then you're stalling out the whole recovery of the recession.' - Lois Wales.
Winnipeg (6 May 2010) - The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE), which represents more than 32,000 public sector workers, has launched a campaign to promote public services following a wage freeze announced by the government.
TV advertisements will be aired across the province under the theme Your Province, Your Services.
The ads introduce individual public employees who do everything from testing water quality to guarding offenders in provincial jails. Currently, the union has produced five profiles for the ads.
Lois Wales, first vice-president of MGEU, says it's important for the public to realize that wage freezes will have an impact on the provincial economy and the services people receive.
"If you're cutting back on the public service's spending power, then you're stalling out the whole recovery of the recession," Wales told the CBC.
"Because the private sector is just starting to come back, people need to have money to spend to keep that economy going and that's what our members expect," she says.
Freeze part of long-term plan.
The government announced in its recently tabled 2010 budget that it will run significant deficits for five years before returning to a surplus. A two-year wage freeze for government employees was announced as a cost-cutting measure.
Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk has defended the wage freeze, saying the government could have laid off workers and cut programs in order to balance the budget. However, it chose instead to run deficits and preserve front-line programs. The wage freeze is to be implemented as existing collective agreements expire.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
More information:
MGEU Civil Service Profiles