A record number of public sector executives making six-figure taxpayer-funded salaries have complained they are not being paid enough for having worked through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the pandemic began, the number of executives working for the government has grown by over 21%. Today, there are a record 7,900 executives employed in the public sector.
The Association of Professional Executives of the Public Service of Canada (APEX) says it has been working behind the scenes to lobby Liberal Treasury Board President Mona Fortier to boost their salaries and improve working conditions.
Some are even upset that employees under them are being paid more, calling it a sign of “disrespect by the employer.”
“Levels of frustration, beyond what has ever been seen before in the executive community, are being measured,” APEX CEO Carl Trottier wrote to Fortier.
“A record number of executives are asking APEX how to be demoted out of the executive cadre stating pay inversion and disrespect by the employer as the main causes.”
Pay inversion is when subordinates who can earn overtime make more than their employer. APEX has called the issue “demoralizing” and noted that many executives have worked hard while dealing with the threat of COVID-19.
“Taxpayers have struggled through two years of revolving government lockdowns, pay cuts, job and business losses and we can’t afford higher taxes to pay for raises for bureaucrats that already receive big six-figure salaries,” Federal Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) told True North. “We don’t need more bureaucrats with bigger salaries, taxpayers need our government employees to be willing to share in the tough times and take a pay cut.”
Taxpayer-funded executives have complained of a $7,000 pay difference among some employees. Entry-level executives can make up to $132,100 a year, while some higher level policy analysts get paid up to $140,571. However, according to 2018 figures, higher end executives were being paid up to $343,100 with a 39% performance bonus.
Currently, several public sector unions are involved in ongoing negotiations with the Liberal government for larger raises, citing the need to keep up with inflation.
According to the CTF, over half a million federal and provincial government workers benefited from pay raises during the COVID-19 pandemic at the expense of the taxpayer.
“We’re not all in this together,” said Terrazzano. “We’ve seen a tale of two pandemics: one full of private sector pain and the other full of financial gain for bureaucrats and politicians.”
On Apr. 1 senators and MPs also received a scheduled pay raise, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earning an additional $21,604 this year, raising his total salary to $379,404.
