Double Whammy for Public Sector Workers This Week

Double Whammy for Public Sector Workers This Week

ST. JOHN’S, NL – Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) President Carol Furlong says government hit public sector workers with a double whammy this week.  

“First, we were shocked to learn that ten senior public service appointments were made by government at the same time that hundreds of public employees were being laid off. And then, after cutting these jobs, government announces that the hiring freeze was suddenly being lifted,” said Furlong. “The inconsistency in what government is saying and what government is doing is unbelievable. There is clearly a credibility issue here.”

“If government had vacant positions they should have conducted an assessment of workers being laid off to see if they could fill these positions as opposed to causing pain and suffering to the affected workers and their families,” stated Furlong. “Instead, government did away with the Re-employment Priority Policy which would give laid-off workers the first opportunity at jobs that become available. This is all about choice. Clearly, government did not have to lay off all these workers.”

“This is not how you treat people. There is nothing honorable in the callous manner in which government has handled these layoffs,” said Furlong.

NAPE is renewing its call for the government to conduct reviews of the cuts in all departments and agencies that were affected by budget cuts and layoffs.

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