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'These highway depots need to be reopened. This shouldn't be just about winning.' - Carol Furlong.
St. John's (10 Aug. 2009) - The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) says the province is hurting everyone concerned by appealing a significant legal victory won by highway workers this spring.
The decision by the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland in June upheld an arbitrator's ruling that the province acted beyond its authority in 2005 when it closed 12 highway depots for the summer maintenance season.
The court ordered the government to restore all lost wages, seniority and other benefits to workers affected, a decision worth an estimated $5 million to $6 million to the employees, NAPE estimates.
Union president Carol Furlong says the province should stop fighting the issue and accept the court's ruling – which upheld an earlier arbitrator's decision "in its entirety."
“NAPE has been asking government to reopen these highway depots and let the workers carry out much needed maintenance on our highways," she adds.
"Instead government continues to spend tax dollars to fight us on this. The bill is adding up. The longer this goes on, the more money in lost wages government owes workers. Everyone else can see the big picture but government,” Furlong says.
“These highway depots need to be reopened. This shouldn't be just about winning. It is about the vitality of rural Newfoundland and Labrador," she adds.
"It is about public safety and it is about honouring the collective agreement. NAPE is once again calling on government to take corrective action and reopen the highway depots."
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
More information:
Big victory for highway workers in Newfoundland