Provincial employees bear burden of poor fiscal management: CUPE
About 4,500 public sector workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) ratified a contract on Dec. 14 with the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial government, but that doesn't mean they are happy, said the union.
After many months of bargaining, employees accepted the deal which contains zero wage increases and eliminates severance packages, said CUPE.
“Taking severance away from people who are retiring or who have to leave a job for any reason is downright shameful,” said Dawn Learning, CUPE national representative. “It's hard enough for seniors to get by. Now people leaving the workforce will lose the financial support they used to count on as they transition to life without a paycheque.”
Hardest hit will be on new hires, who will not only lose severance but will pay more for group insurance benefits, said Learning.
“We are very disappointed that this government has chosen to balance its books on the backs of workers,” said Sherry Hillier, CUPE N.L. president. “Taking $25 million out of the pockets of retirees is not something to crow about.”
The new agreement covers CUPE members who work in health care, school boards, public libraries, housing, group homes, transition homes and Government House. It expires in 2020, said the union.
