NEWS RELEASE

For immediate Release:

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Week One of Government Layoffs and Remaining Sheriffs Asked To Work Overtime

 ST. JOHN’S, NL – Only a few short days after layoff notices were issued, court workers are already being asked to work overtime to cover shortfalls.

According to NAPE President Carol Furlong, an email was sent to Sheriffs asking for volunteers to work overtime this coming weekend. “This is astounding,” stated Furlong. “The layoffs aren’t even fully in effect yet and already the system can’t handle the mess created by government’s layoff fiasco.”

 20 of the 40 active sheriffs in St. John’s have received notice of layoff, with fourteen layoffs being effective by Friday coming, and the remaining six slated for lay off by April 26.

 “The government is playing with people’s livelihoods. If this wasn’t so sad and pathetic it would be a joke,” Furlong continued. “This is a clear indication that government’s approach to these layoffs is completely irrational and dysfunctional. Employees are sitting at home with no work while others are being called in at overtime rates. This goes beyond ludicrous.”

 “We expect to see more and more examples of similar incompetence as the layoffs take effect,” concluded Furlong.

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