That's what Alberta's nurses are calling the move by Jason Kenney's UCP to roll back their wages by 3%.
In Kenneyland, contracts apparently are notional, not legal, documents. In 2020, a four-year contract with a 0% wage increase was signed, but Alberta Health Services, under the obvious direction of a craven, feckless premier, says they just cannot afford the wages they are currently paying.
Perhaps the government hopes nurses will take some comfort in the fact that people like Alberta's Finance Minister really do like them:
In a statement on Tuesday, Finance Minister Travis Toews commended the “invaluable role” nurses have played in the COVID-19 pandemic but noted Alberta needs to get its finances back on track.
“The need to bring wages in line with other large provinces does not diminish our deep respect for the exceptional work and dedication of public sector workers.
And that 'deep respect' was echoed by the man himself.
The premier was asked about the negotiations with the nurses’ union on Thursday. While Jason Kenney said he didn’t want to comment too much out of respect for the negotiation process, he did thank all health-care workers for their services, especially during the pandemic.
As the following report makes clear, neither the nurses nor the public are impressed by political platitudes.
If the political winds are blowing in the direction I suspect they are, after the next provincial election the United Conservative Party will have ample opportunity to reflect on and review how they do politics. Sitting on the other side of the legislature will, no doubt, be a humbling experience for them.
