This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
“Government talks about attracting workers to the province while at the same time it is forcing highly skilled young workers to look elsewhere for their economic future,” said Furlong.
St. John's (12 March 2012) - The Newfoundland and Labrador Premier’s recent comments regarding government’s intentions to reduce public services by laying off public employees are creating high levels of anxiety in the province’s public service says Carol Furlong, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE).
Over the weekend, the Premier stated that government is cutting public service jobs by way of layoffs and attrition. According to Furlong, Newfoundland and Labrador is enjoying one of the best economies in the country and this is not the time to be cutting pubic services to the people of the province.
“The public service has grown over the last few years as a result of need identified by the Williams’ government. After decades of reductions in the public service it was essential that our new found wealth address this social deficit,” stated Furlong. “We are particularly upset by the Premier’s reference to government as an employment agency. Public service employees are the engine that ensures the people of this province have the best possible public services. These services are province building services, not make-work projects.”
Furlong continued, “NAPE recognizes and supports government’s departmental reviews to ensure prudent fiscal administration. However, when our economy is healthy and we are a "have" province it is illogical to be reducing services to the public by laying off the service providers.”
According to Furlong, the majority of employees to be laid off will be younger employees whose hopes of employment in Newfoundland and Labrador will be crushed. “Government talks about attracting workers to the province while at the same time it is forcing highly skilled young workers to look elsewhere for their economic future,” said Furlong.
Furlong noted, “The irony of government announcing layoffs of service providers while announcing the hiring of a defeated Tory candidate as a contractual employee will not be lost on public employees and the citizens of the province. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador deserve better.”
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