The union representing 12,000 Ontario government managers and professional employees is calling on the province to banish the wage freeze it set out for all public sector employees.

That’s one of five specific recommendations set out by the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO) president Dave Bulmer in a pre-budget consultation submission to the Ministry of Finance.

Ahead of the release of the 2015 budget, AMAPCEO is also calling on the government to work to increase revenue, continue its efforts on pension reform, minimize the use of consultants throughout the public service – especially in information technology – as well as look to bring more management of public sector construction projects in-house after the release of Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk’s scathing annual report.

“These recommendations are offered in good faith to the Liberal government, which has, since the onset of the fall 2008 financial crisis, sought to return to balance on the backs of its employees,” said Bulmer, the newly elected head of the union who has been touring the province to help marshal support from members to fight cuts to public services.

The government is looking to cut back on spending wherever it can to help eliminate a $12.5 billion deficit by 2018. It has warned public sector unions not to expect any wage hikes in new labour deals unless equal savings can be found in other parts of the contract.

The government stuck to that philosopy last summer when it negotiated a four-year agreement with AMAPCEO that froze salaries the first two years and provided small wage hikes in the third and fourth years that were offset with other savings.

In the 2014 budget, the Liberals outlined a three-year plan to effectively freeze program spending at about $120 billion and whittle down the deficit to zero by 2017-18.

While much of what this year's spring budget will contain is not known, Finance Minister Charles Sousa has said it will include the final report from the premier’s Advisory Council on Government Assets, which has been brainstorming what to do with Ontario Power Generation, Hydro One, LCBO and the Beer Store.

With its pre-budget submission, the association also released a brief on the proposed Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, which it says must be a mandatory, universal plan available to all employers.

The Liberals introduced legislation in December that provides the framework for the made-in-Ontario pension plan. Consultations have been ongoing, but the plan would require employees and employers to make matching 1.9 per cent contributions on annual earnings up to $90,000.

Businesses have expressed concern about the proposed plan, with a new survey from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce showing that only a quarter “believe they can shoulder the financial burden associated with the ORPP.” The survey also found that 44 per cent of the 1,136 respondents indicated they would reduce payroll, or hire fewer employees in the future, if saddled with mandatory contributions to the ORPP.

The Liberals have said all along their preferred approach is an enhancement to the Canada Pension Plan, but the Harper government has been uninterested.

AMAPCEO is the bargaining agent that represents 11,500 professional and supervisory employees who work in the Ontario Public Service, as well as in a number of agencies, boards and commissions.

The union also represents more than 500 employees in the broader public sector who work at Health Quality Ontario, and groups such as the Ontario Arts Council and Ontario Racing Commission.

AMAPCEO calls for public sector wage freeze to be scrapped in upcoming budget

Read this for free.