Should PSAC members receive a 13.5 per cent wage increase? | Power Play with Vassy Kapelos

A panel of MPs discusses why negotiations have stretched on for so long with PSAC, and if PM Trudeau needs to weigh in on a deal.

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52 comments

  1. No one talks about the fact that this collective agreement covers 2021-2022-2023. In fact they are due to start negotiations for 2023-2024-2025.

    The government made more money because of inflation (number of tax dollars increased with inflation), isn’t it fair to compensate the ps according to the increase of tax revenue?

    Is anything less than 13.5% a effectively a wage cut shouldered by the public service? I don’t know why this is not being discussed.

    1. @Disguise Falling It’s not the revenue, so much as inflation and/or cost of living. I suppose if we had a period of deflation, the government might be justified in looking at pay decreases. Then again, workers’ pay has not kept up with inflation for half a decade….

    2. The workers working from home have benefited greatly also, as they had no expenses, and probably never really put in a full day’s work like they would have if they worked from the office. Have no pity blood suckered sulking on tax payers backs.

    3. @Casey Wierzbicki Honestly I do alot more work at home than I did in the office.

      Maybe it’s not the case with everyone, but at home I have zero distractions, all my equipment is located near my workstation (and yes, I use a full workstation setup at home, not just a laptop on a coffee table).

      I no longer call in sick. I use the time that was spent commuting to go for a run or work out. It’s just better.

  2. Could they afford the raise if they allowed employees who can work from home to continue doing so and save themselves on overhead?

    1. Yes. Also the unions demands regarding the use of outside contractors would also save money (as at present corporations and external consultants profit massively.) We know from all data internationally that remote work (which has been part of public service for about a decade, was only expanded during the pandemic but isn’t new) increases productivity and efficiency for workers, and had been broadly adopted by many private sectors specifically for efficiency and cost savings. Sale of some of those real estate holdings for redevelopment into housing would revitalize the downtown core, provide much needed housing and positively impact businesses. Which for the record, do not deserve billions of dollars worth of tax payer “investment” in terms of office buildings but if it’s a genuine concern, building a vibrant residential community would do more to help businesses than inconsistent presence of office workers.

    2. @Colin Johnston productivity is actually steady and in some metrics up from before the pandemic thanks to work from home. You have not ‘clearly seen’ anything.

    3. ​@Colin Johnston Yeah your objective view of decreased productivity seems a bit far fetched. There is substantial evidence that indicates increases in or maintenance of productivity as workers are given remote working rights. It varies from sector to sector, but certainly one is not able to blanket statement remote work as a decrease in productivity around the board. I’d advise a bit more research before making these types of absolute statements.

    1. For me, I enjoy the interviews because Vassy keeps making faces and calling them out for dodging questions.

    2. I think Blaikie from the NDP was the only panelist who answered the questions asked without hedging or obfuscation, or in the Conservative’s case, foaming at the mouth with the latest PP ‘buzzword’.

    3. @Uncle Nerky I wish the NDP would say something about what they think would be fair. Even something as vague as “a middle ground on pay, and reasonable wording for working from home” is better than just saying they support the union.

    4. @Uncle Nerky I agree that he was the most direct! But like, I want to hear everyone’s ACTUAL opinion. It’s a lot easier to say “Trudeau bad” (even if that’s true), it’s a lot harder to say “and this is what I would do instead”.

    1. They should never have taken it, undeserved and shameful. It caused this problem. Nobody is talking about a minimum wage increase. Shameful Justin

    2. Mona’s Pay 2020 : $ 272K Mona’s Pay 2023: $289K, while most PSAC employees stayed the same since 2019.

    3. @Michael Anderson it didnt increase.. i would know.. apparently i dont qualify for it despite being working class. cause i got a raise that keeps me where i was two years ago.. so now in the eyes of the government im too wealthy to collect CWB

  3. Politicians raise their pays but they ignore those who serve them and serve the general public instead of spending days talking on TVs

    1. Canada is more concerned about UNIOIN needs. Time they help farmers and non union workers. Cut the union jobs 1/3. Trudeau must GO and Jugneet are gone past sell by date

  4. Give everyone same pay hike! Remove the fat benefits for MPs! Reduce Mps number to half!

  5. Nice questioning Vassy. I like how you called out all parties on their real answer, or answer dodging.

  6. All workers across the country should have their wage adjusted to inflation, why is this topic even controversial?

    1. @Craig Savio and the federal govt workers didn’t miss a single day of work during the pandemic. soo what group are you talking about?

    2. @Dan N that is the problem they do not try to bring down the costs of things.i do not need more money i need affordable things for living

  7. I would love to see an interview with public servants who are part of PSAC discussing what they do, how the strike is affecting them, and how a deal would impact them.

    1. Mona’s Pay 2020 : $ 272K Mona’s Pay 2023: $289K, while most PSAC employees stayed the same since 2019.

  8. My opinion every employee in Canada deserves at least 14.5% raise nowadays. Politicians suck they only know how to attack each other. Kudos to federal workers you are fighting for all Canadian laborers

    1. Which would drive inflation through the roof where the cost of living would become unbearable for most.

    2. @Bob Thodas That would only be true if labor was 100% of costs. But it’s not. Your TV isn’t going to go up by 15% just because the delivery guy is paid 15% more. Your groceries aren’t going to go up by 15% just because the farm workers are paid 15% more.

      There is some link, but it isn’t a 1:1 relationship between wages and inflation.

      Personally I’d be willing to pay 5% more at the checkout if I was making 15% money.

  9. 4:25 the lady is insane not mentioning her party’s position, coming up and not having the most BASIC answer is an insult to our ears…..and then doubles down at 9:18 by calling the Liberals incompetent while clearly showing she has no ways to end it herself if she won’t state her position.

    Thank you Vassy for re-asking the question and holding all sides to task!

  10. tbh… I love how she’s calling everyone out on not answering question directly…
    Thank you. This is refreshing <3

  11. It’s really annoying when politicians don’t answer direct questions, whether liberal, con, or NDP

  12. This is honestly the best journalism I’ve seen in a long time. Non-partisan, asking the questions and holding all parties feet to the fire for their responses. Vassy gets my endorsement for the 13.5%

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