Finance
September 9, 2016

Fair and Responsible Discussions

Provincial Government Provides Update on Collective Bargaining

The Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, today provided an update on collective bargaining with the province’s public sector employees. The Provincial Government has formally invited unions to commence collective bargaining. Invitations have been extended to the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to commence collective bargaining this month. Bargaining schedules with other unions will be arranged over the coming weeks.

“Our government will be engaging with our public sector unions in a fair and responsible dialogue about our province’s future and the issues we face. We look forward to bargaining in good faith with our fiscal challenges in mind. However, we enter into collective bargaining with a backdrop of a very serious financial situation. Our bargaining teams are ready to work with unions to come up with productive ways to reach collective agreements that are fair to employees while being prudent and responsible in the spending of taxpayer dollars.”
- The Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board

The Provincial Government spends $3.8 billion annually on employee salaries and benefits, or 45 per cent of total expenses of $8.5 billion. In addition, there are liabilities associated with employment benefits, which account for approximately $8 billion.

A total of 26 collective agreements expire in 2016, which includes NAPE and CUPE agreements and agreements with the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association, Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Association, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government has formally invited unions to commence collective bargaining. Invitations have been extended to the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees and the Canadian Union of Public Employees to commence collective bargaining this month.
• The Provincial Government will be engaging with public sector unions in a fair and responsible dialogue about the province’s future.
• A total of 26 collective agreements expire in 2016.

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Media contact:

Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Finance 709-729-6830, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

2016 09 09                              11:45 a.m.