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NAPE president questions whether Premier Danny Williams has any understanding of issues at stake.
St. John's (3 Nov. 2010) - Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the steps of the Confederation Building in St. John's Tuesday afternoon to show support for striking members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) on the Burin Peninsula.
The crowd, comprised of members of several unions and other supporters, chanted "Do the Right Thing".
Most were delegates of the 73rd annual Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour (NLFL) annual convention taking place in St. John's. The demonstrators arrived in buses and demonstrated over the lunch hour.
NAPE president Carol Furlong says she has had very good dealings with Premier Danny Williams in the past and says she has seen his compassionate side. However, she wonders where that side is now or whether he understands issues at stake.
Fifteen employees of the Burin-Marystown Community Training and Employment Board have been on strike for over 11 months.
NDP Leader Lorraine Michael has expressed support for resolutions passed at the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour convention.
Michael says she is troubled that the provincial government has settled with a group of workers in the Bay St. George region who do community support work similar to that of striking Burin Peninsula workers.
Their settlement includes a wage higher than what the Burin workers are seeking. Michael says government should be showing leadership regarding the rights and treatment of workers and she says the private sector cannot be expected to do so while the government keeps a group of 14 workers on a picket line for almost a year.
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
More information:
• Negotiations break off in Burin-Marystown strike
• NAPE astounded at court case over striking workers