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No other union has been asked to accept concessions now being demanded by Burin-Marystown Community Training and Employment Board.
St. John's (11 Aug. 2009) - The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) says the province is trying to force concessions from a small group of employees that no other union has been asked to accept.
As a result, staff members at the Burin-Marystown Community Training and Employment Board – after failing with the help of a conciliator to resolve the situation – have voted to strike if necessary to reach a fair agreement.
Union president Carol Furlong says the situation is unfortunate because the parties originally negotiated a tentative agreement last December, conditional on the board obtaining additional funding from the government.
"NAPE has been trying to conclude negotiations ever since," Furlong adds.
"NAPE returned to the bargaining table and offered to accept current agreement with government's template offer to all other public sector workers," she says.
"Government (then) put forward (its) template offer with additional concessions, which no other union has had to accept. Negotiations broke off in June, and NAPE applied for conciliation."
The workers, who provide support for persons with disabilities, are currently paid only $9.73 to $10.62 an hour.
"It appears government is intent on stripping them of any gains they have made in the past and has forced these workers into a strike situation,” Furlong says.
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