Executive Council
December 23, 2008

The Honourable Jerome Kennedy, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, announced today that the Provincial Government has reached a tentative agreement with the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE).

"The tentative agreement reached today with NAPE represents the fifth such agreement with public sector unions in recent weeks which includes a wage increase of 8-4-4-4 per cent in each of the following four years, or 21.5 per cent compounded over four years," said Minister Kennedy. "Our government recognizes the important role our public sector employees play in our province and I am pleased that we were able to successfully reach an agreement with NAPE that will see its members receive a significant salary increase and one which they truly deserve."

The Provincial Government reached an agreement with the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) earlier this year, and announced tentative agreements with the Association of Allied Health Professionals, CUPE Group Homes and the NLTA earlier this month.

NAPE has more than 19,000 members and is the largest union in the province. The tentative agreements apply to the following bargaining units within NAPE: Air Services, College of the North Atlantic Support Staff, General Service, Health Professionals, Hospital Support Staff, Laboratory and X-ray, Maintenance and Operational Services, Marine Services, Newfoundland Liquor Corporation, School Boards and Student Assistants.

"On behalf of Premier Williams, I would like to thank NAPE President Carol Furlong and her negotiating team for their professionalism throughout the bargaining process," said Minister Kennedy.

Minister Kennedy will be available to the media outside the House of Assembly at 3:00 p.m. today.

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