[bootlegga]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

oh ppffffttt. you'd have snickered, shot the pic and then informed him of his faux pas too

If I was a photographer, it wouldn't have been my job to help him - that would have been the job of the troops around him. Remember, this took place in 1994 - long before everyone and their brother had a phone with a camera in it. The only people with cameras there were the media - and it's most assuredly not their job to tell politicians about their gaffes - it's their job to snap a photo and make a bundle of it. If you don't believe me, ask Danielle Smith about a photo of her on a bus recently.

I agree if I had been a soldier here I would have snickered, but I still would have helped him out and tried to mitigate a negative photo op like that.

Either way, it was childish and petty to not do so.

I'm sure it was a factor whenever Chretien had to choose between the military and just about anything else, he choose other instead.

You reap what you sow...

[Zipperfish]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Regina Regina:

I think it's human nature to react like this, people are bitter.
My brother in-law is a CMA and a manager in the Edmonton office where many of the cuts were made. He survived but was told he needed to be back in town for Wednesday, so at the time he wasn't sure. He's mentioned plenty of times the entitlement many of them have and how little they feel they need to do once their protected. Last night he said many of them won't be missed but there are a few that were cut that shouldn't have been. Unfortunately with the unions as they are you can't pick and choose who stays based on performance and work ethic.

Well, I like to think that I as in the latter category. I was an environmental scientist working for the feds, so I knew my days were numbered. That's why I took my one-year leave of absence to serve here in Afghanistan. Sure enough, as soon as I got here, I got the letter that I'm out. Still, the severance package isn't bad. They said there may be work for me (I like to think that I fall into the your latter category of those who actually work hard and produced).

Anyway, despite the indexed pension (or "golden handcuffs" as it is sometimes referred to), I'm not keen about going back. It's just soul-destroying working at a place where many Canadians assume you're just sucking the public tit, and--yes--you get the distinct impression that those you work for don't particularly like you.

So, lots to consider when I get home.

Well, as I see it, you've got a few choices - go work for the private sector and make much more than you did for the government, but also work more hours and expect to be on call 24/7 - or go work for a non-profit, accept less pay and enjoy a job that is probably much more meaningful to you.

Another choice is to work in academia - like the government you won't make as much as the private sector, but the work can be much more meaningful. That's the choice I made and so far I haven't regretted it one bit.

Finally, the last choice is to become an entrepeneur - find something that you can market and sell. If you work hard enough, you might be able to gather a lot of wealth, but you won't have a vacation for a few years.

Either way, as Yoda once told his student - choose wisely...

Good advice, thanks. The hard part will be if the gummint offers me another job. My wife will want me to take it, but I don't really want to. I have a recruiter buddy who says he doesn't like working with civil servants because their self-esteem is destroyed from years of being told how useless they are.

Anyway, the Afghanistan job looks like it was a good choice. It opened some opportunities. Academia sounds good too. I like teaching and writing. But then there's the effort to go scare up a Ph.D. We'll see. I've got enough to worry about over here, so I'm waiting until I get home to sort it out. Cheers.

[bootlegga]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

bootlegga bootlegga:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Well, I like to think that I as in the latter category. I was an environmental scientist working for the feds, so I knew my days were numbered. That's why I took my one-year leave of absence to serve here in Afghanistan. Sure enough, as soon as I got here, I got the letter that I'm out. Still, the severance package isn't bad. They said there may be work for me (I like to think that I fall into the your latter category of those who actually work hard and produced).

Anyway, despite the indexed pension (or "golden handcuffs" as it is sometimes referred to), I'm not keen about going back. It's just soul-destroying working at a place where many Canadians assume you're just sucking the public tit, and--yes--you get the distinct impression that those you work for don't particularly like you.

So, lots to consider when I get home.

Well, as I see it, you've got a few choices - go work for the private sector and make much more than you did for the government, but also work more hours and expect to be on call 24/7 - or go work for a non-profit, accept less pay and enjoy a job that is probably much more meaningful to you.

Another choice is to work in academia - like the government you won't make as much as the private sector, but the work can be much more meaningful. That's the choice I made and so far I haven't regretted it one bit.

Finally, the last choice is to become an entrepeneur - find something that you can market and sell. If you work hard enough, you might be able to gather a lot of wealth, but you won't have a vacation for a few years.

Either way, as Yoda once told his student - choose wisely...

Good advice, thanks. The hard part will be if the gummint offers me another job. My wife will want me to take it, but I don't really want to. I have a recruiter buddy who says he doesn't like working with civil servants because their self-esteem is destroyed from years of being told how useless they are.

Anyway, the Afghanistan job looks like it was a good choice. It opened some opportunities. Academia sounds good too. I like teaching and writing. But then there's the effort to go scare up a Ph.D. We'll see. I've got enough to worry about over here, so I'm waiting until I get home to sort it out. Cheers.

You forgot over-paid and entitled!

[ShepherdsDog]

I'm sort of in the same boat, but not really by choice. After the last sinofied screw up we've decided to go home no matter what the locals decide. Been out too long...may have to go back to teaching or working for a division (Picking up an MA in Linguistics - Second Language Acquisition - should help the job choice too) if I can't get my old job back right away. Whichever comes up first in and around Winnipeg or Grandview/Dauphin, where we have our rural property, is what we'll take first. I can afford to sit and wait for a while, but I really don't want to if I can help it.

[bootlegga]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

I'm sort of in the same boat, but not really by choice. After the last sinofied screw up we've decided to go home no matter what the locals decide. Been out too long...may have to go back to teaching or working for a division (Picking up an MA in Linguistics - Second Language Acquisition - should help the job choice too) if I can't get my old job back right away. Whichever comes up first in and around Winnipeg or Grandview/Dauphin, where we have our rural property, is what we'll take first. i can aford to sit and wait for a while, but I really don't want to if i can help it.

Your MA should definitely help in finding work - one of the biggest shortages in Alberta right now is for ESL teachers (Math and Science being close behind).

[Regina]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Well, I like to think that I as in the latter category. I was an environmental scientist working for the feds, so I knew my days were numbered. That's why I took my one-year leave of absence to serve here in Afghanistan. Sure enough, as soon as I got here, I got the letter that I'm out. Still, the severance package isn't bad. They said there may be work for me (I like to think that I fall into the your latter category of those who actually work hard and produced).

I would think you'd be in the latter as well. No one goes where you are for free money and a tan! Generally speaking, I think that most in those job situations with some sort of professional designation have a different work ethic.

[Zipperfish]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

I'm sort of in the same boat, but not really by choice. After the last sinofied screw up we've decided to go home no matter what the locals decide. Been out too long...may have to go back to teaching or working for a division (Picking up an MA in Linguistics - Second Language Acquisition - should help the job choice too) if I can't get my old job back right away. Whichever comes up first in and around Winnipeg or Grandview/Dauphin, where we have our rural property, is what we'll take first. i can aford to sit and wait for a while, but I really don't want to if i can help it.

Yah sounds to me like you need to get out of there, for the sake of your sanity.

[Gunnair]

OnTheIce OnTheIce:

Unprofessional actually.

[Gunnair]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

Regina Regina:

I think it's human nature to react like this, people are bitter.
My brother in-law is a CMA and a manager in the Edmonton office where many of the cuts were made. He survived but was told he needed to be back in town for Wednesday, so at the time he wasn't sure. He's mentioned plenty of times the entitlement many of them have and how little they feel they need to do once their protected. Last night he said many of them won't be missed but there are a few that were cut that shouldn't have been. Unfortunately with the unions as they are you can't pick and choose who stays based on performance and work ethic.

Well, I like to think that I as in the latter category. I was an environmental scientist working for the feds, so I knew my days were numbered. That's why I took my one-year leave of absence to serve here in Afghanistan. Sure enough, as soon as I got here, I got the letter that I'm out. Still, the severance package isn't bad. They said there may be work for me (I like to think that I fall into the your latter category of those who actually work hard and produced).

Anyway, despite the indexed pension (or "golden handcuffs" as it is sometimes referred to), I'm not keen about going back. It's just soul-destroying working at a place where many Canadians assume you're just sucking the public tit, and--yes--you get the distinct impression that those you work for don't particularly like you.

So, lots to consider when I get home.

We're only months away from you being able to legally open a brothel in Sudbury. Want to work out a business plan? Mix in a hobby ranch for sheep and we'll have the Campbells signed off as long term customers.

[BartSimpson]

RUEZ RUEZ:

Imagine if soldiers had been allowed to wear pins like this directed to the Liberals after their cuts.

[BartSimpson]

Prof_Chomsky Prof_Chomsky:

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

I completely support the workers here. Unions have to make a stand or they'll be gone. Who better to make a stand against?

And while the buttons may be controversial, they are also accurate. That should count for something.

This isn't a private business, it's public. Technically the workers, as Canadians, own the company. Harper works for them. As Canadians they are entitled to make a political statement.

Stop confusing private corporations with public ones.

Remember that when a Liberal/NDP PM gives an order to the military and they tell him to f*ck off.

[Gunnair]

$1:

Kelly McParland: Harper doesn’t hate civil servants. He just doesn’t treat them special
Kelly McParland  Jun 29, 2012 – 9:39 AM ET | Last Updated: Jun 29, 2012 11:30 AM ET


After making a passing remark recently about the fact teachers work a ten-month year, I got a small flood of emails from displeased educators. The theme was the same: we work hard. People don’t appreciate all the extra duties we perform. Teaching is a tough job.

I happen to know this to be true. Most Canadians haven’t the faintest clue how much more is demanded of teachers beyond mere classroom time. Entire ranks of supervisors, politicians and bureaucrats exist solely to dream up more duties to demand of them (since parents are evidently no longer capable of raising children).

Nonetheless, they’re fighting a losing battle. Working for the public is probably less fun than it’s ever been. After a year of resistance, B.C. teachers reluctantly accepted a contract this week that gave them next to none of their demands. The union argued it didn’t have a choice, since the province was likely to impose the contract anyway.

Ontario teachers are in the same boat, as are doctors. One wing of the Ontario medical industry has begun running radio ads accusing the province of planning to impose “U.S.-style health care” on an unsuspecting population, which seems a bit suspect considering this week’s Supreme Court ruling upholding Obamacare – which Republicans denounce as Canadian-style socialism.

The Ottawa Citizen reports that almost 50% of disability claims by public servants last year were for mental illness. That follows an earlier report indicating federal employees take double the number of sick days as those in the private sector, and that on any given day 19,000 bureaucrats are off the job on some kind of medical leave. Working for the government, it seems, not only makes you sick but drives you crazy.

The tendency is to blame the nasty Tories. Some Canada Revenue Agency workers who wore “Harper Hates Me” buttons to work, and were told to remove them, are reportedly filing a grievance through the Public Service Alliance of Canada. The union sees nothing wrong with the buttons.

“We think it pretty well summed it up – Stephen Harper hates public servants and there were buttons created,” Robert Campbell, president of the Union of Taxation Employees, told the CBC. A few days ago there was a similar complaint after Parks Canada employees received a letter suggesting they keep their political opinions to themselves while on the job (the government says it had nothing to do with the letter).
So, according to employees on the federal and provincial payrolls, they are under siege, underappreciated, plagued by a government that despises them and a public that doesn’t care. The pressure is so bad it’s making them physically and mentally ill.

It’s a good story, but perhaps not entirely accurate. Even if the federal government gets rid of 19,000 employees as planned, there will still be tens of thousands more bureaucrats on the payroll than when the Harper Tories took office, and they’ll be spending near-record amounts. Ontario’s government is battling merely to temporarily halt the exponential growth it sponsored over its first eight years. None of the federal or provincial governments are contemplating reductions in the same league as those imposed by the Chretien Liberals in the 1990s.

The problem seems to be more a matter of mind set. This morning’s headline announced that Research in Motion Ltd., until recently the darling of Canadian technology, would cut another 5,000 jobs as it tries to staunch losses and save $1 billion in costs. That’s on top of 2,000 cuts previously announced. Together they add up to more than a third the total contemplated for Ottawa’s civil servants. RIM employs about 16,500 people, compared to 282,000 by Ottawa, so the bloodshed at the Waterloo Ont. firm is far more serious than anything undertaken by a Canadian government.

No one at RIM is accusing the company of picking on them. So far there are no reports of employees wearing “RIM hates me” buttons. There are no doubt many employees disgusted that the company managed to so badly bungle the elite position it enjoyed just a few years ago, and angry at corporate decisions that have so harshly impacted on employees who worked their hearts out on its behalf. It’s not fair in any sense of the word, but it’s reality, and RIM is just one of many private sector companies forced to struggle for its life since the world economy fell off a cliff in 2008.

The difference is that public employees have little experience with such harsh realities and are accustomed to being shielded. Now that the protective barrier is weakening somewhat, they feel they’ve been treated unjustly. The fact is they’re simply being exposed to some of the pressures and risks that are part of everyday life for most Canadian workers. Odds are it won’t last long: one day the economy will be strong again, and the easy life of safe government jobs and big pensions will return. Until then, it’s almost as if government workers were just like everyone else.

National Post

Posted in: Canada, Full Comment, Policy, Social Issues  Tags: Bureaucrats, Civil Service, Federal Government, Public Employees, Public Service Alliance Of Canada, Research In Motion, RIM, Stephen Harper

[Zipperfish]

What “harsh reality”exactly, am I supposed to be shielded from? I lost my job. So did a lot of others. And then I have to read this lady reiterating just what a useless POS I am. That’s harsh. Kick a guy when he’s down, why don’t you?

Mind you, now that I’m out of there, it‘s kind of liberating. I don’t have to have to mumble what I do for a living anymore, and I don’t have to listen to the National Post and conservative choir preaching to me about what a waste of oxygen I am.

[Zipperfish]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

What “harsh reality”exactly, am I supposed to be shielded from? I lost my job. So did a lot of others. And then I have to read this lady reiterating just what a useless POS I am. That’s harsh. Kick a guy when he’s down, why don’t you, McParland?

Mind you, now that I’m out of there, it‘s kind of liberating. I don’t have to have to mumble what I do for a living anymore, and I don’t have to listen to the National Post and conservative choir preaching to me about what a waste of oxygen I am.


I don't think they deserve me, frankly. At least that's how I'm dealing with it.

[Zipperfish]

Regina Regina:

I would think you'd be in the latter as well. No one goes where you are for free money and a tan! Generally speaking, I think that most in those job situations with some sort of professional designation have a different work ethic.

Thanks buddy! Little comments like that go a long way right now. Cheers