Mr. Speaker, PSAC employees are being shafted. They are on strike because their ability to engage in binding arbitration has been taken away from them. All PSAC employees want is to be treated fairly and to get back to work. As a result of the strike the public is inconvenienced and our economy is hurting.
What do PSAC employees want? They want to be paid the same for doing the same job with the same skills as other people in other unions within the government. As it stands, PSAC employees are paid significantly less.
In my riding of Esquimalt—Juan de Fuca, Canadian forces base personnel have been exemplary in meeting the challenges laid out for them. They have downsized more than 40%, increased efficiency and doubled up on their duties. All they get from this government is a kick in the teeth.
We must deal with PSAC workers fairly and treat them the same as other workers within the federal government, give them the same wages, benefits and opportunities and get them back to work. Anything less is an abdication of this government's responsibility.