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"Public services must be there when Nova Scotians need them. This is a time to support the most vulnerable Nova Scotians, not pull support away.” — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
Halifax (30 Jan. 2015) — The Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) is distressed to learn about recent cuts to child welfare services in rural communities.
“Cutting these important services in rural Nova Scotia will hurt the most vulnerable people and their communities,” says Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
Cuts to child welfare services put children at risk
The Union was recently advised that the Department of Community Services is laying off five unionized members working in child welfare services in Barrington. It is also laying off five child welfare workers in Guysborough with an additional layoff of a Income Assistance Caseworker. This follows on the heels of the closure of the Sheet Harbour Community Services Office.
“The people who live in Guysborough and Barrington deserve to have quality public services, and the jobs that come with the delivery of those services,” says Jessome.
Cuts to public service jobs hurt local economies
"Cuts to child welfare services may put Nova Scotian children at risk while removing good jobs from rural communities where they are needed most," Jessome continues.
“Right now our economy is fragile, the unemployment rate is high, and jobs are few and far between. Public services must be there when Nova Scotians need them. This is a time to support the most vulnerable Nova Scotians, not pull support away.”
“We believe cutting services to rural communities is very damaging,” says Jessome. “It creates an incentive for families to move to urban areas and increases the stresses on rural communities.”
“These decisions are being made without any consultation with front-line workers or their union. We are left to wonder what other public services and communities are being targeted by government? Who is next?” Jessome asked.
The NSGEU/NUPGE represents unionized employees who work in the Department of Community Services. These workers include income assistance caseworkers, child protection workers, family support workers, social workers, case aides, supervisors, and secretarial staff (clerks) who provide valuable public services in communities across the province.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE