Public sector workers reach tentative agreements in St. John's

‘Arduous, and difficult round of bargaining:’ NAPE president

The negotiating teams representing public sector workers — who are members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) — have reached tentative agreements with the provincial government and respective employers.

“I am very pleased to tell our members and the people of the province that our teams have reached tentative agreements,” said Jerry Earle, NAPE president. “Our teams will be recommending acceptance to the membership.”

NAPE’s bargaining teams met throughout September and into October. This was a significant change in the dynamics at the bargaining table as compared to what the Union’s teams had been experiencing in the year prior, said the union.

At that stage, the union began meetings with the Minister of Finance and senior officials from his department. These meetings led to a framework for an agreement in mid-November, said NAPE.

Since then, the union and government officials have been working to finalize language and details.

“Our teams met over the past weekend to review the details of the framework agreement,” said Earle. “This has been a long, arduous, and difficult round of bargaining.”

The tentative agreements apply to the following bargaining units: Air Services, CNA Faculty, CNA Support Staff, General Service, Group Homes, Health Professionals, Hospital Support Staff, Laboratory X-ray, Marine Services, MOS, NLC, School Boards, Student Assistants, Ushers and WorkplaceNL.

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