When the touring National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) bus rolled into Yorkton Thursday and set up in our downtown park there was not a flood of people awaiting its arrival.
Now that is understandable when you analyze the local situation.
The NUPGE message stemmed from the NUPGE 'All Together Now!' campaign promoting tax fairness, public services, good jobs and labour rights.
While the issues are worthy, in Saskatchewan at present a rather vibrant economy has quelled focus on such things.
That is a mistake on our part as citizens.
It is easy to drive around a city like Yorkton and see 'helped wanted' signs in the windows of numerous businesses and think there are few concerns in terms of getting a job.
It is true getting a job may not be that difficult these days provided you have at least a reasonable resume to offer, but the job may not be one which provides much in terms of standard of living.
Yes minimum wage did inch up 20-cents an hour Oct. 1, but for those workers managing to find a full 40-hour a week job, that means an increase of $8 a week before any deductions.
Now remember municipal taxes have climbed in recent years, and will continue that trend with a six per cent hike set for 2015. The cumulative tax increases mean higher housing costs, whether you own, or rent.
Water and sanitation rates in the city both move up steadily and those increases are mirrored in high costs for energy and power.
The wage earner working steadily at many retail sector jobs are finding their budgets squeezed even in a time of economic strength in our province.
So to expect a tax system where everyone contributes on a fair and equitable basis, and to call for wages which are sufficient to keep workers above subsistence levels are as reasonable an expectation in good times, are they are in bad.
That we seem to forget these basic principles in what are generally good economic times in our city and province is unfortunate.
And while few showed up at the recent bus stop in Yorkton, it is a message worth thinking about; as a strong economy should be something we all share in.
