Robyn Benson, the national president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is in Whitehorse this week to start discussions among Yukon Employees Union (YEU) members about their upcoming contract negotiations with the territorial government.

Their current contract is set to expire at the end of this year.

No meeting has yet been planned with the employer, Benson said during an interview today at the YEU offices in Whitehorse.

But the union is beginning preparations for negotiations for when a meeting can be arranged.

On Saturday, Benson will attend a national day of action organized by PSAC in Whitehorse to protest of cuts to the federal public service.

Locally, the event will be held at the YEU offices on Second Avenue near Fourth Avenue.

Beginning at 11 a.m., chili and bannock will be served. Those in attendance will have the chance to discuss how cuts to the federal public service have affected them thus far and how they expect future cutbacks might affect them.

"...We're starting a day of action on Sept. 15 because we want to hear from Canadians about the services that they already know they're losing,” Benson told the Star.

"We want to be able to share with them what we know they'll be losing, and quite frankly, we want to tell this government that what they're doing is wrong; that Canadians deserve services.”

In the Yukon, about 120 people have lost their jobs due to the cuts. Benson and YEU president Steve Geick expect the finally tally to hit around 200.

"When you say 120, it doesn't sound like it's a large number, but there's going to be a number of individuals, whatever the bottom line is between now and 2015 who will be unemployed,” said Benson.

"Who will not be spending money in their communities? So the economy in and of itself for Yukon will suffer when you have individuals who will not be able to maintain their homes, raise their children.

"It's not just a numbers exercise. It's more about the quality of life and the community as a whole,” she said.

Geick added that the impact is more significant in the smaller offices of the Yukon.

"You go to Ottawa and an office may have 100 people in it, but you come to the Yukon and there's only maybe two people or three people in the office and you're only cutting one job.

"Well, that has a much greater impact when you're dealing with a smaller workforce, and then the two people that are left have to compete against each other for the same job that they've been sitting and doing together for 30 years.”

The spring federal budget announced 19,000 cuts nation-wide, but Benson said PSAC estimates there will be 35,000 cuts by the end of 2015.

The reductions have been announced in waves, and Benson expects thousands more to come down in the next few weeks.

"What we know for sure, for example here, there'll be cutting the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), and that's an agency that I'm very familiar with because that's my employer.

"We know for sure that right across the country and here as well, they're cutting what we call the cash and counter,” Benson said.

"Now, if you owe the government money, you won't be able to make the payment at CRA; if you need advice, which is what we do, is help taxpayers; you won't be able to go into the counter and have anyone assist you.

"What they're saying is Canadians should start to use the computer more, and what we're saying is that there are some Canadians A) don't know how to use the computer, are not technically sound; B) don't want to use the computer; and C) should have the service that they deserve.”

In terms of what's already known, Benson said there are cuts to search and rescue personnel, Parks Canada, infrastructure projects, the CRA, Old Age Security and Employment Insurance.

"...Less service officers means longer waiting times, and those are vulnerable Canadians who need to have the money to put food on the table, and yet I would caution you about food on the table because they are cutting in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. So we have an issue with food safety....”

Benson said PSAC would have liked the government to enter into open and transparent discussions with the union before coming down with mass cuts to the federal public service.

"Quite frankly, we don't believe that the government should be looking at this deficit on the backs of federal government workers. I think they need to look as a whole in terms of this deficit.

"Do we need, what are those planes, the F35s? I don't want to be cheeky, but if it's about having an employment insurance check processed or flying an F-35, and that employment insurance cheque is going to put food on the table for a wife or husband and three children.

"Where are the priorities of this government?” Benson asked.