Unelected and unaccountable board to cut health care spending

“Mr. Crosbie is essentially asking people to vote for him so he can create an unelected body to do his dirty work in the health care system." — Jerry Earle, NAPE President

St. John’s (18 April 2019) — Jerry Earle, President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) is concerned by comments made by Ches Crosbie, leader of the Progressive Conservatives (PC) about cuts to health care. 

Progressive Conservatives make wrong-headed election promise 

“In the first hours of the campaign, Mr. Crosbie has called for cuts to health care,” said Earle. “Creating a quasi-judicial, non-elected, unaccountable body to make cuts to our health care system is a wrongheaded and concerning approach to health care.”

“Mr. Crosbie is essentially asking people to vote for him so he can create an unelected body to do his dirty work in the health care system,” said Earle. “No doubt efficiencies can be found, but many of our health care members are already burnt out, stressed, and overworked. They are working short, being denied leave, mandated to stay to work, and working substantial overtime to deliver the quality of care that the people of this province require and depend on. What message does this send to them on day one of the campaign? ” 

Unions and frontline workers left in the dark on proposed health care changes

“I encourage Mr. Crosbie’s campaign to reach out to us to provide clarification on this matter as we represent the majority of health care workers in the province,” said Earle. “It’s unclear what the plan here is, but it obviously doesn’t include consulting with frontline workers or the unions that represent those members since the first I heard of this ill-conceived plan was in the news last evening.” 

NAPE/NUPGE represents approximately 11,000 health care workers across the province in the five regional health authorities.