Union claims prime minister broke promise to 'cap, not cut' public service
O'Reilly claimed that the Harper cuts 'cut into bone, they cut into meat, it was not surgical,' adding he is concerned the current government's spending review will do the same.
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The Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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O'Reilly also criticized the Liberal government for not consulting with unions ahead of announcing the spending review, adding that he learned about it through the media.
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'They had known about it for a few days, and they never brought us in,' O'Reilly said. 'That's not a partnership. That's not the way I want to work with this government.'
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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre recently told CBC that he believed his proposals to cut the size of the public service were what led to his loss in the riding of Carleton. He accused the Liberals of lying about whether they would lay off government workers and blamed campaigning from public sector unions in his riding for his loss.
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Sharon DeSousa, president of Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), told the Ottawa Citizen that she chalked up Poilievre's local loss to his tendency to alienate voters in an election campaign that unfolded against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to make the country the 51st state.
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'I think that cost him more that just the seat,' DeSousa said. 'I think it cost him the election.'
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When asked whether PSAC, which is the largest federal public sector union, campaigned specifically in Carleton, DeSousa said her union ran a similar nationwide campaign to previous elections.
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The PSAC leader said she is calling for Carney to 'make good on his promise' to cap, not cut the public service.
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'Canadians are watching closely to see what he will do,' she added.
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Another public sector union, the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) has also sounded the alarm on the proposed cuts.
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In a statement to the Ottawa Citizen, CAPE President Nathan Prier said he 'welcomes' Pierre Poilievre for holding Carney accountable on the 'broken promise' to 'cap and not cut the federal public service.'
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