Public Service Day presents challenges for public sector workers

Designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2002, June 23 is Public Service Day, recognizing the important contributions of public service workers — by direct government workers and those in the broader public sector, including community social services, community health, and education.

The message is clear: Public services play a key role in all our lives, and the work of public employees deserve to be recognized.

The BCGEU and our national union, the National Union of Public and General Employees, are joining millions of workers around the world in celebration today.

Here at home, our challenge sits at our front door. The provincial government has already cut over 1,100 jobs in the Ministry of Forests and Range, with significant cuts to the Ministry of Citizens' Services also scheduled this year.

Forestry has been hit especially hard. The B.C. Liberal government's budget cuts have dealt a serious blow to government’s ability to manage public forests — allowing forest companies to regulate themselves.

While the government has said that budget-related cuts have ended for this year, we all know that there will be on-going "re-organization" of departments, resulting in more movement of employees. Many positions that are vacated due to attrition and retirement will remain unfilled, creating greater work loads for those who remain.

A pretty clear signal that things haven't gone well is sent when the head of the public service, Allan Seckel, admits that "it wasn't a banner year for engagement."

In early June, the Public Service Agency released the results of their "Work Environment Survey," which shows a dramatic drop in employee satisfaction across government. In particular, the measurement of "vision, mission, and agenda" was down by eight points over last year's 64 per cent rating.

Public services are the glue that holds society together, and should be held in esteem. Some of that feeling has been lost during these turbulent economic and political times. It's time we stopped to consider the important role that public services play in our day-to-day lives.