'Timing was poor:' Union braces for possible wage rollbacks, layoffs

SEIU West is concerned about the possibility of its members facing wage rollbacks, or possibly layoffs, as the provincial government tackles a $1 billion deficit.

In a year-end interview with the Canadian Press, Premier Brad Wall said those were a few of the options the government was considering to help handle the deficit.

In a tweet, Wall said they would look at the salaries of elected officials.

Yup, I mentioned that in the interview. If we decided to go down that road, we would lead by example and begin with elected officials. https://t.co/3KpmxPH6OH

— Brad Wall (@PremierBradWall) December 28, 2016

SGEU has also voiced its concerns over the comments Premier Wall made.

SEIU West represents 13,000 service employees in the province, including people in health care and education.

“Simply musing about layoffs and rollbacks, especially during the Christmas season, makes me raise my eyebrows,” President Barbara Cape said. “I think the timing was poor.”

Cape said there is a very large round of provincial collective bargaining upcoming.

She said her members are not only concerned about money, but how their ability to provide care would be affected.

“I want to see my premier champion public health care and public education workers just as much as he champions our oil and gas industry.”