Strikes are already being threatened by a number of unions, including those representing British Airways cabin crew, Royal Mail staff, and a
number of public sector employees.
However, Kaplan said introducing legislation similar to Iceland's would at least mandate more transparency around wages being earned by private sector workers or those who fall outside so - called sunshine lists, which disclose the salaries
of public sector employees making more than $ 100,000.
For example, in New Brunswick, while Francophones represent approximately 33 % of that province's population, 32 %
of public sector employees used French as a language of work.
The Government announced in the Annual Financial Report that it had recorded retroactively its obligation for the accumulated sick leave
entitlements of its public sector employees that are anticipated to be used in the future.
Every year — part of the legacy of former Ontario Premier Mike Harris — the Ontario government must publish a
list of public sector employees who make more than $ 100,000 — the so - called Sunshine List.
Additionally, the Public Sector Pensions Commission recently estimated that a huge 94 per
cent of public sector employees are still on unsustainable defined benefit schemes, compared to just 11 per cent in the private sector.
I spoke this afternoon with former LG Richard Ravitch, who has years of experience as a budget reformer, and he sounded not quite sold on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's proposed Tier 6 plan, nor was his thrilled about the
demonizing of public sector employees that is taking place as elected officials all over the country struggle with varying degrees of fiscal meltdown.
The contempt order by Judge Colas creates more confusion regarding the
status of public sector employee unions but public sector employers should wait until this matter is decided by the Wisconsin Supreme Court before agreeing to negotiate over any topic other than an increase in base wages.