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NSGEU opposes IWK forced vacation closures

'Our members who are front line workers in the centre did not support this closure." - Joan Jessome.

Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE)Halifax (20 July 2010) – The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) is strongly opposed to the forced closure of the Adolescent Treatment Centre (ATC) run by the IWK Health Centre for two weeks in August.

Responding to growing concerns being expressed about the impacts of this closure:

“We want to make it clear that our members who are front line workers in the centre did not support this closure," says NSGEU president Joan Jessome.

"They are well aware of its potential adverse impacts on their youth clients (ages 12 to 19) and their families. Our members wanted to see the program remain open and vacations to be scheduled as they always have been.”

Jessome says it was "clear to us from the beginning" that the plan was aimed at saving money and "had nothing to do" with maintaining or improving vital services.

“It also certainly does nothing about allowing staff to take vacation time," she noted. "Our members are now being forced to take vacation time when they would not necessarily want to do so. And for some people, it also means going without pay.”

Jessome says the closure is not the only one forced by IWK.

"The Compass Program for younger youth (6-12 years old) also has to close for two weeks in August and the CHOICES Adolescent Treatment Program had to close for two weeks earlier. We opposed those closures as well,” she says.

“The forced closure of the Adolescent Treatment Centre in August has very little to do with allowing staff to take vacations. It is primarily an ill-conceived cost-saving tool by the IWK. This is definitely a step backwards as far as our members are concerned.”

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