Workers from across province gather to address privatization “crisis” in Newfoundland & Labrador

CORNER BROOK, NL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Public sector workers from across the province are gathering this weekend to exchange ideas and develop strategies to defend against privatization of public services in Newfoundland & Labrador.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is hosting a three-day conference at the Greenwood Inn & Suites in Corner Brook, where workers will hear from experts, activists, and each other on the increased use of public private partnerships (P3s) in almost every public sector in the province. The incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in the workplace, and addressing it at the bargaining table, will also be a key topic at the conference.

“Before 2017, our province was the only one in the entire country that had managed to resist the use of P3s,” said Sherry Hillier, President of CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador.

“Today, our elected leaders would rather pay private agencies than properly fund our already existing public services. Travel nurses are the most common example of this, with the government paying private nurses up to four times a public nurse’s wage for the same work, but there are so many more,” explained Hillier. “We’re seeing it in public housing, in our schools, in our universities, in city services like waste removal and snow clearing services, in emergency medical services and shelters… every sector of our public services is under attack. This is a crisis.”

From the 2022 Health Accord to this year’s Education Accord, CUPE members have been sounding the alarm on the disturbing trend of funding cuts, service reductions, and increased use of private contracts by former Premier Furey’s Liberal government.

CUPE served notice to bargain to the provincial government this week on behalf of over 20 CUPE locals, kicking off a coordinated negotiations process which involves over 4,000 provincial public sector workers across the province.

In 2004, this process included 20,000 workers taking strike action and winning essential improvements to wages and working conditions for the public sector after almost a month on the picket line.

“This is our home, and whether it’s at the municipal and provincial polls in October, or it’s at the bargaining table, CUPE members are prepared to fight for our communities and to fight for our public services,” finished Hillier.

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