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“Issuing these ROEs is yet another heavy-handed attempt to keep these workers in line. I am constantly astounded by the lengths this so-called progressive and community-minded organization will go.” — Jerry Earle, NAPE President
St. John's (04 April 2022) — On March 30, talks broke off between the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) and Choices for Youth (The Lilly). NAPE/NUPGE represents and unites nine (9) workers at The Lilly, a 14-unit congregate living supportive housing facility for youth operated by Choices for Youth.
22 days into strike
“Our members at The Lilly have come to the table for the past year with a willingness to listen and work towards compromise, but the employer refuses to take the steps necessary to reach a deal that will be acceptable to our members,” said Jerry Earle, NAPE President. “At this stage, it’s more than unfortunate, it’s infuriating.”
“There was hope we could get there; we presented some good options in the spirit of reaching a deal,” said Earle. “But the employer, after dragging our team along again, refused to budge. I have never seen anything like this in all my years of bargaining; the disrespectful and meanspirited approach taken by this employer to divide and conquer is nothing short of shameful.”
“We had to tell the group of youth mentors the news this morning; that wasn’t an easy thing to do,” said Earle. “The members talked it out, held a secret ballot vote, and voted 100% in favour of continuing the strike.”
Employer says no money for workers but hires more management
“This employer says it doesn’t have the money to bridge the small gap that remains at the table, but they apparently have all kinds of money to uproot youth and put them up at a hotel, partially unsupervised and at great expense, for the past 22 days,” said Earle. “They don’t have money for these workers, but they have more than enough to post new HR and management jobs during this strike. This is an organization with 25 plus managers and coordinators — one for every 4 or 5 frontline workers.”
“This is not about money — this is about union-busting and trying to break these workers,” continued Earle. “Well, our message is clear — these workers will not break and their union will do everything in its power to support them for as long as it takes to get a fair deal. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with these brave, determined, and dedicated workers.”
Management at the Lilly intimidates workers with ROEs
Last week, Choices for Youth issued Record of Employment (ROE) papers to each of the striking workers, which is outside the norm during a strike.
NAPE/NUPGE sees this as yet another attempt to intimidate these workers.
“Since square one and at every turn since, this employer has pushed back against workers trying to democratize their workplace,” said Earle. “Issuing these ROEs is yet another heavy-handed attempt to keep these workers in line. I am constantly astounded by the lengths this so-called progressive and community-minded organization will go.”
“If I were a donor, whether the provincial or federal government, a business, or an individual, I would have serious concerns about where my money was going and how it was being used by this organization,” concluded Earle.