A sergeant with the Sunshine Coast RCMP says he plans to keep speaking out about pay and working conditions for Mounties, despite a caution from his superiors.
Sgt. Chris Backus and other RCMP members on the Sunshine Coast were at the spearhead of a nationwide protest against the government’s slow response to calls for better wages and a new contract.
The disgruntled Moun-ties have been removing the bright yellow stripe on their trousers, covering them with duct tape, or wearing plain blue cargo pants.
Backus said although a Supreme Court of Canada ruling has given Mounties the right to form a union, the process is dragging on and members want salary and other issues addressed now.
RCMP members have been without a contract since January 2015.
Just as frustrated members started their stripe-stripping protest, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale announced retroactive pay increases of 1.25 per cent effective Jan. 1, 2015, a further 1.25 per cent effective Jan. 1, 2016, and a “market adjustment” of 2.3 per cent effective April 1, 2016.
“It was a last-minute olive branch and we see right through it,” said Backus “It’s insulting. Go back into the room, Mr. Goodale, and keep working something out.”
The RCMP pay scale is public, and as of Jan. 1, 2014 it ran from $50,674 per year for a rookie constable to $107,146 per year for a staff sergeant major – the highest rank below inspector.
“Right now you have a constable for the Vancouver city police making more than a staff sergeant for the RCMP,” said Backus. “You have the chief of police of Port Moody, who controls a similar amount of policing resources as our staff sergeant on the Sunshine Coast does, and he is making $60,000 more a year.”
Backus told Coast Reporter the difference in pay between RCMP members and their counterparts in other police forces has the potential to harm the future effectiveness of the Mounties.
“Our recruitment is getting hindered … Why would they go to RCMP when you can go to Vancouver city police and make $30,000 more a year as an entry-level constable?” he said. “The other thing is we’re losing members to the municipal police forces. We’re training these members – and they’re good members – and they’re saying ‘see ya later, I’m outta here, I’m going to work for another [police force],’ so we’re having trouble retaining gifted and skilled police officers.”
Backus said he, and the other members changing their stripes, are prepared to continue the protest “as long as it takes,” but the last thing they want to do is withdraw services.
“We’re just hoping that we can get some public attention, and most importantly get some government attention here from our MPs and the federal government. You guys gotta wake up, what you’re doing for us is not enough. This is a first step that we’re considering is the best, most professional [and] ethical way to make a statement.”
Backus said the response to the movement that started on the Sunshine Coast and in North Vancouver has been incredible. “The last few days have been the pinnacle of my career. I’ve never been so proud to be a Mountie, because it’s a moment where we’re saying we can’t keep doing more with less, but we still care enough about doing the best job we can that we have to speak out.”
RCMP responsible for patrolling Parliament Hill joined the protest this week, and some plainclothes officers have been wearing ribbons made of the yellow fabric to show support. NDP MPs even wore the ribbons in the House of Commons.
Backus said he’s been cautioned not to speak to media without written permission. “I am not going to be silent on this issue,” he said. “We are not going to put on our yellow stripes. Those are going to stay off until we get an equitable pay package, and some of these conditions that are concerning to other members in isolated posts start being addressed.”
A request for information about disciplinary action against RCMP officers participating in the protests was referred to national headquarters in Ottawa, which has not responded.
