Local Community Advertising
Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers across Canada are altering their uniforms and participating in a "no-stripe campaign" to protest over wage disparities amongst municipal police forces.
The protests began earlier this month after the RCMP received a long-awaited pay package from the Government that didn’t live up to expectations.
“[The pay package] does very little in moving the RCMP into a competitive salary range to attract and to retain qualified candidates,” read a statement from the National Police Federation. “This new pay package will have minimal impact in advancing us from 72nd out of 80 Canadian police forces on pay. This means many urban members still make $15,000 to $20,000 less than officers in neighboring municipalities and leaves RCMP members who are serving in remote and rural areas significantly underpaid for the challenges they face every day, week and year.”
In response to the wage disparities, a number of RCMP officers have begun removing or covering the yellow stripe on their uniform as a symbol of protest while still serving their communities.
However, according to the National Police Federation, the no-stripe campaign is about a lot more than just payments.
“It’s also about Rising detachment attrition rates with no clear plan to improve or increase recruitment; The delays by Government to respond to Bill C-7 which will provide the framework for RCMP members to form an association; And ongoing overtime that creates unacceptable and unsustainable working schedules for the members affected and their families.”
In response to the protests, RCMP Commissioner Rob Paulson released a public statement on Wednesday expressing his opinion on the situation.
Despite beginning his statement by acknowledging how the pay package failed to meet expectations, Paulson goes on to explain how altering uniforms can negatively impact Canadian communities.
“We just received a long awaited pay package from the Government: not as much as we wanted but better than it was going to be. It does not get us to parity with the top paid police forces in the country,” said Paulson. “While it is upsetting that we haven't yet achieved this parity there are an awful lot of people in the communities… who don't understand what it is about our present circumstances that is leading some of you toward altering the uniform that they recognize, rely on, and look to for support.”
“There has been no retribution or discipline for covering up or removing or changing the color of our stripe. I get why some of you felt it necessary to do that, I really do. I won't do it and I have to tell you how worried I am about the impact this will have on the citizens we serve. So I respectfully ask that you bear that in mind.”
Paulson later details in the statement that he had received complaints from officers who feel they are being bullied into participating in the protests.
Ultimately, time will tell how successful the no-stripe movement will be in addressing the wage disparities.
What’s your take regarding the ongoing wage dispute? Is it fair that RCMP officers are paid less than their municipal counterparts? How should the RCMP and the Government go about addressing the issue of wage disparity?
Leave us your thoughts in the comment section and we will update this story when future information becomes available.
Local Community Advertising