A better bargain: NAPE president hopeful collective bargaining will improve with new finance minister

The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) president Jerry Earle is pleased with the decision to replace former Finance Minister Cathy Bennett with former House Speaker Tom Osborne.

Earle said ongoing collective bargaining has been difficult and he's hopeful the new finance minister will change that.

"I've worked with minister Osborne in a previous capacity many years ago, we had a good relationship and I look forward to a similar relationship on this rather challenging collective bargaining," Earle said.

Earlier this year NAPE accused Bennett of sowing distrust and trying to derail the collective bargaining process.

"Minister Osborne has been around politics for a long time I believe he understands, collective bargaining to a relative degree — he understands dealing with difficult issues."- Jerry Earle

"It's been a very difficult and trying time, and now with a change in that portfolio I believe it's an opportunity to take a fresh step in collective bargaining," Earle said.

In May, Bennett said bargaining had stalled, telling a group of chartered accountants that no progress was made during conciliation talks.

"Minister Osborne has been around politics for a long time I believe he understands, collective bargaining to a relative degree — he understands dealing with difficult issues," said Earle

Under Bennett's guidance the provincial government spent $40,009.40 in legal fees to McInnes Cooper for three weeks' worth of work in June for communications on collective bargaining.

The government severed ties with McInnes Cooper's Cathy Dornan, a crisis communications expert later in July.

Earle's hopeful bargaining will improve.

"We've been at this now for 18 months, we've truly had difficulties, the previous minister, I would suggest, not being familiar with the process interfered to some degree, and caused us great difficulty but I'm hoping we can get past that," Earle said.

Bennett was the minister of Finance, named to the post after Dwight Ball's election as premier in December 2015.

A relationship-builder

Ball welcomed Osborne into his new position at the swearing in, Monday.

"He's someone that I've relied on in the past for sure," Ball said.

"I think Tom's ready for this. And it's really about the experience, Tom's a great relationship-builder. He will build on the work that Minister Bennett has already done."

As minister of Finance, Bennett brought down two provincial budgets, including the controversial budget of 2016, which led to protests across the province.

"She will continue to contribute and certainly be part of the transition as we move into the new era of minister Osborne," Ball said.

Bennett will continue to serve has MHA of Windsor Lake.

• Cathy Bennett out, Tom Osborne in as finance minister amid cabinet shuffle
• Province paid law firm $40K for 3 weeks of work: NAPE
• Cathy Bennett showing 'contempt' for bargaining, says NAPE

As well as his new role  as minister of Finance, Osborne will also be responsible for the Human Resources Secretariat and the Chief Information Officer.