By email : letters@ottawacitizen.com
May 29, 2013
Mr. Gerry Nott
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Ottawa Citizen
1401 Baxter Road
Ottawa ON
Dear Sir:
Re: A ‘new beginning’ for public service, by Kathryn May, Ottawa Citizen, May 29, 2013
“Treasury Board President Tony Clement told senior federal executives he is “drawing a line in the sand” with new mandatory performance agreements for all employees that will help get rid of those whose work isn’t up to scratch.” It is disgraceful that any employer would make such a statement, and illustrates their total lack of respect for their workers. The attacks by the Conservative Government on its own employees are unprecedented, malicious and continuous . The overwhelming majority of public servants are performing well and above what they are compensated for. They display pride in their work and, even as their numbers decrease, they step up and do more with less.
I have been an employee of the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for over 35 years and have always done my job with pride and commitment. Mandatory performance reviews and performance expectations have been in place from the first day I started to work. Poor performers, to which Mr. Clement refers, have always been dealt with by this employer. In my mind, this is merely another attack on public service employees that is designed to draw attention away from the poor performance of the government. Rather than effectively focusing on the Senate scandal, the Robocall scandal, the money that has been wasted in conservative ridings such as Mr Clement’s for the G7 summit, and other such matters, Mr. Clement attempts to offer up the public service as overpaid and under worked in an effort to deflect the poor performance of this government.
I am confident that Canadians realize that public service employees are the backbone of this country. The work that they do is essential to the Canadian public, and for the most part, appreciated by Canadians. Most Canadians know someone who works for the government and they are familiar with their strong work ethic and professionalism. The majority of public servants work more hours than what they are paid for and they have stepped up to do more with less, and in dwindling numbers, in order to keep providing essential services to the public. Yet, this government prefers to attack and advertise that they are “drawing a line in the sand to help get rid of those whose work isn’t up to scratch”. Imagine the amount of money that this government will spend in Treasury Board in instituting such a negative and aggressive model of performance management!
The most effective method to better management and increased productivity is to keep Treasury Board out of the management of the Departments and Agencies. The gains that were made at the CRA after it became a separate Agency are numerous and profound. Without Treasury Board’s interference, we developed an excellent union-management relationship; we negotiated two collective agreements prior to the expiration of the previous agreements; we became more efficient than any other agency or department. Then behold, the Conservative government passes Bill C-45, and puts bargaining control of the CRA back under Treasury Board. We began collective bargaining for a new collective agreement last July, and we are nowhere near being completed, due in whole to the interference of the Treasury Board.
This government has forgotten that it is here for the people. Their attacks on public servants and dedicated Canadians who work so hard and proud for the Canadian people has to stop. Is this not another fine example of monumental bullying by this government?
Perhaps Mr. Clement should expend his efforts attempting to influence Mr. Harper to introduce a system of performance management for elected representatives of government. But then again, if such a system existed, Mr. Clement himself might be identified as one of those poor performers whose performance is not up to scratch. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT CANADIANS HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
Robert Campbell
National President UTE
Président national SEI
613 235 6704 (office/bureau)
613 868 5947 (Cell/Cel)
www.ute-sei.org