The Provincial Government today announced that 15 of its collective agreements with NAPE bargaining units have been signed and finalized as of March 31, 2018. These four-year agreements are set to expire on March 31, 2020.
The Provincial Government and NAPE, which represents approximately 19,000 public sector employees, worked cooperatively for agreements that:
- Secure a four-year wage freeze, marking the first time in the province’s history that such a freeze has been mutually agreed to;
- Eliminate severance, a major achievement that removes a significant financial liability for government. Overall, the elimination of severance across the public service will result in $25 million in savings annually and $35 million annually once the debt is fully paid;
- Secure changes to group insurance. Overall, the implementation of these changes across the public service will result in millions of dollars in savings in 2018, and by 2026, annualized savings will be in the tens of millions;
- Include an agreement for no mass-layoffs for the term of the agreement which provides job security for NAPE members in a vulnerable economy; and
- Maintains government’s ability to make workforce changes through attrition.
NAPE employees with questions about severance can find more information on the Public Service Network (PSN) website. For those without access to the PSN, information packages will be mailed. Employees may also contact the HRS Service Centre at HRSServiceCentre@gov.nl.ca or by phone at 709-729-7690.
Negotiations with other public sector unions in the province are ongoing at this time.
Quote
“These agreements with NAPE strike the balance
between respecting the important work of the public service in Newfoundland and
Labrador and addressing our current fiscal situation. They have helped us in our
efforts to remain on track with our plan to return to surplus by 2022-23 through
significant cost savings, while providing NAPE employees with job security for
the duration of the agreement.”
Honourable Tom Osborne
Minister of Finance
and President of Treasury Board
Minister Responsible for the Human Resources
Secretariat
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Media contact
Marc Budgell
Finance
709-729-2477,
689-0430
marcbudgell@gov.nl.ca