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CALGARY — Hundreds of union employees waved flags and screamed anti-Harper epithets during a demonstration that gathered across the street from the Conservative convention on Saturday, as the party supported “right to work” proposals and passed several motions that would curb the ability of unions to collect mandatory dues, maintain opaque finances and engage in partisan political activities.

Delegates also passed several proposals to bring public sector pay in line with the pensions and wages more commonly seen in the private sector.

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“This is exactly our position going into the next round of bargaining,” said Tony Clement, President of the federal Treasury Board. “For too long, there have been major gaps in wages and benefits between the public and private sector…this is not sustainable, it’s not right, it’s not Conservative and it’s not in the public interest.”

That wasn’t the view of the public sector workers across the street, many of whom wore blue “Stephen Harper Hates Me” buttons and waved flags. The union protesters saw the slate or motions as a direct attack on unionized workers.