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Privatizing is only going to result in more low-paid work for our rural communities, where good jobs are needed now more than ever." — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President
Halifax (07 July 2015) — In the July 6 edition of The Chronicle Herald, Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane said of the 12 workers directly affected by the closure of the Pictou Visitor Information Centre, “All of them have been placed, have found work.”
Contrary to this statement, many laid-off civil service members are still awaiting placement.
Government moving ahead with privatization while workers struggle to find work
The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) represents all of the workers who have been affected by the Liberal government’s latest round of cuts and the layoffs in April. Recently, union representatives attended a transition meeting and were advised that there are actually a total of 36 employees across government still awaiting placement — 18 full-time permanent and 18 seasonal staff. Four of these employees worked at the Pictou Visitor Information Centre.
Nova Scotia government outsourcing work at Bay Ferries
Additionally, a report from the CBC indicates that Bay Ferries has agreed to a partnership arrangement with the government’s new tourism agency that will place a tourism representative on the ferry to provide information to visitors. The article says that the position will be staffed by Bay Ferries, but this work was previously done by NSGEU/NUPGE members who worked at the Digby Visitor Information Centre. Six of those affected staff members are still waiting to be recalled.
The province has now laid off NSGEU/NUPGE members, devolved their work on a Crown Corporation, and privatized the service.
No sound rationale for privatizing services
“This is a clear case of the Liberal government handing over public sector work and services to the private sector without any sound rationale,” said NSGEU President Joan Jessome.
“The government is accountable for the quality public services Nova Scotians rely on. Privatizing is only going to result in more low-paid work for our rural communities, where good jobs are needed now more than ever," Jessome said.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 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