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'Why not leave the front line service positions alone and explain the million dollars spent on consultants?' - NBUPPE.
Fredericton (4 May 2009) - The New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees (NBUPPE/NUPGE) wants the province to crack down on "double dipping."
"Double dipping refers to the age old practice of the province rehiring retired, pensioned employees - usually past deputy ministers, directors and managers - to 'consultant' positions," the union says.
"If the government is looking for cost efficiencies, why not leave the front line service positions alone and explain the million dollars spent on consultants?"
The union says the government's annual Blue Book identifies the salaries of all employees earning $40,000 a year or more. However, much less information is available on the true cost to taxpayers of hiring consultants.
NBUPPE located an information link on the government web site offering insight on the way government spends revenues, including information related to double dipping. Some of the spending, the union noted, was "quite unjustifiable."
After the link was published by the union, it ceased to operate on the government website. The link, http://www.gnb.ca/0087/index-e/asp, now says, "Sorry, the page cannot be found."
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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