Alberta’s Prentice promises no wage hikes for unions, more cuts to agencies

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Jim Prentice says his government is freezing the salaries of all managers and will fight for similar freezes in future contract bargaining with unionized staff.

The Progressive Conservative leader says the management wage freeze will be for three years and says his government will seek zero per cent deals from unions until the budget is balanced.

Prentice says he will also axe 25 per cent of Alberta’s 320 agencies, boards and commissions if re-elected May 5.

He told an audience in Red Deer that he will also establish efficiency teams in all departments to find ways to cut down on waste and red tape.

He says his government will further tighten severance payments and make public the salaries and benefits paid to managers in universities, on school boards, on other government agencies and in Alberta Health Services.

The premier says it’s part of his long-term plan to bring sustainable costs back to government.