Letters to the Editor

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Letter of the Day

We are proud to serve

Posted: 06/29/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

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I don't think I can convince Scott Malabar that he is wrong (Civil servants must serve, June 21), but I can chastise the Free Press for publishing his naive rant.

Having worked for 33 years for the provincial government and volunteered on the Manitoba Service Excellence Awards committee for six of those, I can tell you that I am proud to be a civil servant and to work with some of the most dedicated, service-oriented and creative people in Manitoba.

Contrary to Malabar's position that we don't "even expect to interface with anyone other that other civil servants," most in the public sector provide outstanding and compassionate service to our clients and come to the job eager to provide customer-focused services. We deliberately recruit for previous customer service and emphasize the need for good service.

Civil servants provide health care, social services, legal advice and many other essential services to Manitobans. The staff in many departments see the absolute worst of what human beings can do to each other and still come to work and do their best.

We rise up to unexpected challenges of pandemics, natural disasters and human tragedy with selfless service, creativity and strength.

Many of us deliberately join the service to provide Manitobans with what they need and deserve (not for the "job security" Malabar claims -- which, by the way, might be refuted by 19,000 federal servants). We take verbal and physical abuse from many people, and unlike a business owner, we cannot refuse service. Yet still we serve.

Would Free Press editors publish such a letter if it denigrated all reporters? I think not. Please do not publish these hurtful and unfounded letters.

SUSAN BOULTER

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 29, 2012 A13

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