The two main unions representing the 2,000-member civilian workforce at CFB Esquimalt asked members to boycott Wednesday’s annual barbecue to honour civilian employees at the base.
Both the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Union of National Defence Employees urged their members to stay away from the event, hosted by Rear-Admiral Bill Truelove, that celebrates Public Service Week.
Capt. Jennifer Jackson of base public affairs didn’t give an estimate of attendees or say if the turnout was affected.
“The people who were there seemed to be really enjoying themselves,” she said.
This is the first time the unions have boycotted the barbecue, said Mark Miller, vice-president of UNDE.
“We’ve got these workforce-adjustment announcements, or layoffs, that have been coming out nationwide, as well as our collective agreement being undermined. We’re saying there’s no way we can be seen as being appreciated when we’re being kicked around,” Miller said.
The 1,100 UNDE members at CFB Esquimalt include those in the trades, firefighters, clerks, cooks, cleaners, ships’ crews, engineers and ammunition workers.
About 2,000 jobs are on the line across Canada with 43 of those in B.C. and 13 at CFB Esquimalt, he said.
Jobs have also been lost through attrition, Miller said.
“Of course, the work isn’t going away,” he said.
While jobs have been lost in other sectors, it doesn’t justify the loss of positions at the base, he said.
“Because of our linkage with National Defence, what we do allows those in uniform to do what they do,” Miller said. “It’s got that spin-off effect.”
The message Miller hopes to send by staying away from the barbecue is “don’t patronize us, don’t waste the taxpayers’ money on a message that isn’t going to be received by us,” he said.
“The other message is to our members who are losing their jobs that we’re there, we’re with you and we’re doing what we can. We’re not going to go and have a free hot dog and a few hours off of work.”
