Original Source: VOCM
Newfoundland and Labrador is on the verge of bankruptcy, and the tentative agreement between the provincial government and NAPE will be the straw that broke the camels back.
That’s according to labour specialist and well-known Canadian employment lawyer Howard Levitt.
The province’s largest public sector union is currently in the process of ratifying an agreement that was reached with government back in November.
Many groups are growing concerned over the terms of the agreement, which include a wage freeze, a no layoff clause, and the offer of an up-front severance payment for the entire public sector.
Levitt says he’s shocked by the terms. He says he’s never heard of anything like it in his 40 years in labour relations, and he can’t believe government would sign away its ability to reduce the workforce.
Levitt says it’s going to turn lenders away and eventually the province will have to declare bankruptcy.
There’s no date for when the ratification process is expected to end, but Levitt says people need to get ahold of their MHA’s as soon as possible.
He says on top of government being reckless with public finances, they are also surrendering to the union, which will make it even harder to secure financing. Levitt says the current agreement is mortgaging future generations of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and will make the province a laughing stock.