A Message from the President Gary Corbett on the Government’s Announcement Regarding a High-Performing Public Service Fellow members, This week, out of the blue, and again without consultation with bargaining agents, Treasury Board President Tony Clement announced “a new mandatory system for tracking Public Service employee performance.” While I would have hoped that the government would work with us to embrace modern management principles, Minister Clement seems to prefer to score points with misrepresentations, cheap shots and tough talk. Overblown rhetoric and a take-no-prisoners approach is counterproductive but, unfortunately, typical of this government. With threats of quota firings and dismissive comments about the value of their work, this government clearly does not understand what motivates skilled and committed professionals. I know that, like all public service professionals, you value feedback, coaching and positive input on performance issues, in order to provide Canadians with the best possible service. In fact, you expect legitimate performance management. Your employer already has all the tools it needs to manage its workforce. Managers have always been free to deal with performance issues. The inconvenient truth is that, under this government, senior management has simply failed to create an engaged, committed workforce. Collective agreements protect you from arbitrary, unfair actions by employers, not from legitimate performance management. I can assure you that the Institute will continue to fulfill its role in ensuring that these agreements are enforced. Unfortunately, this government and Minister Clement suffer from a severe lack of credibility on this issue. Is it any wonder that so many question their motives? The current government’s record on the public service speaks for itself – from so-called “back office cuts” to the muzzling of scientists to the loss of vital programs and valued leaders such as Munir Sheikh and Kevin Page. Minister Clement’s inflammatory rhetoric seems designed to pick a fight, but it can’t conceal this government’s own dismal record on performance management. Many of its management appointments today read like a rogue’s gallery: former Public Sector Integrity Commissioner Christiane Ouimet, former Chair of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal Shirish Chotalia, former CSIS Chair Arthur Porter and, most recently, the head of the Library and Archives Canada, Daniel Caron. There is no end to the list of this government’s actions that have stained the reputation of our public service. My message to Minister Clement is simple. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada is always ready to discuss initiatives that will improve the delivery of service to Canadians. After all, this is what our members expect of us. But PIPSC will also be ready to defend its members against arbitrary and unfounded attempts to dismiss them by a government that exhibits such a profound lack of support and commitment to public service and proper management. In Solidarity, Gary Corbett President and Chief Executive Officer
Posted on: Sat, 01 Jun 2013 11:19:39 +0000
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