Hi, Guest
oldeguy,
Speaking as government worker I can say that we've already been taking hits long before this current mess exploded on the scene due to decisions by our funder several years ago to try and rationalize our costs
In fact the major push for the last year (before things went to pot) is for a "1% solution" with almost everything funded by Legal Aid Ontario being "asked" to find cost savings and/or efficiencies.
Thing is where I work, most of the costs are only broken down into two categories:
Fixed costs (rent/service contracts for equipment for example)
Personnel costs (Wages/benefits) and I can tell you from personal experience that our benefits have taken a major beating already, with the introduction of co-pays the biggest example (and a major sticking point for me, I don't want to use benefits I have no choice but to use them to remain healthy and able to work)
Considering we're the last line of defense for the most vulnerable in society, I'm at loss to explain this need to slash at us. It's not like our elected representatives want anything to do with these clients... they send them to us! We get chopped at the knees there's no safety net left.
That's enough venting for one night I think...
NefCanuck
Speaking as government worker I can say that we've already been taking hits long before this current mess exploded on the scene due to decisions by our funder several years ago to try and rationalize our costs
In fact the major push for the last year (before things went to pot) is for a "1% solution" with almost everything funded by Legal Aid Ontario being "asked" to find cost savings and/or efficiencies.
Thing is where I work, most of the costs are only broken down into two categories:
Fixed costs (rent/service contracts for equipment for example)
Personnel costs (Wages/benefits) and I can tell you from personal experience that our benefits have taken a major beating already, with the introduction of co-pays the biggest example (and a major sticking point for me, I don't want to use benefits I have no choice but to use them to remain healthy and able to work)
Considering we're the last line of defense for the most vulnerable in society, I'm at loss to explain this need to slash at us. It's not like our elected representatives want anything to do with these clients... they send them to us! We get chopped at the knees there's no safety net left.
That's enough venting for one night I think...
NefCanuck