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Nova Scotia's provincial government plans to switch campgrounds to "self-service" registration arrangements at the expense of local economies.
Halifax (04 March 2015) — The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) is upset with the recently announced plans by the McNeil government to close two Visitor Information Centres (VICs) in Pictou and Digby, and to switch seven campgrounds to so-called self service registration arrangements.
Cuts unfairly targeting rural communities
“In our view, these cuts unfairly target rural communities in Oakfield, Porters Lake, Digby, Pictou, Shelburne, Windsor, Guysborough, Country Harbour, and Whycocomagh," said NSGEU President Joan Jessome.
"These jobs provide important seasonal employment that makes a difference to those communities, families, and local businesses. These cuts mean the loss of 58 seasonal staff positions: 38 from the parks and 20 from the Digby and Pictou VICs."
Workers provide Nova Scotia's friendly face to tourists
Front-line staff at parks and VICs provide important services that include convincing visitors to try new things and extend their stay in our province—word-of-mouth information and experience that cannot be replaced by machines or the Internet.
“Nova Scotians are known for our friendliness and hospitality,” says Jessome. “Does the government really want to take the people out of the visitor experience and say to the rest of the world, “just Google it?”
Many of these workers will not likely qualify for Employment Insurance
Jessome wants the government to reconsider these decisions and their devastating impacts.
“These are seasonal jobs where employees not only lose their income but will also not qualify for EI,” she says. “We fear the impact of these job cuts on affected individuals, their families, and the economy of their local community will be irreversible.”
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