NAPE budget fight hitting the road
'The contempt in the public for this budget is palpable,' says Jerry Earle
Newfoundland and Labrador's largest public sector union is hitting the road to fight the province's budget.
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The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) is planning protests in several communities across the province, in an effort to push back against the cuts outlined in the budget.
"The contempt in the public for this budget is palpable. We wanted to provide opportunities for workers and community members and organizations to voice their opposition," said NAPE President, Jerry Earle, in a statement Thursday morning.
"I encourage all concerned citizens to attend have their voices heard. This is not only about jobs, this is about how cuts to our public services hurts us all."
'Efforts to fight back'
The demonstrations will begin at noon on Friday in St. John's, where Earle will visit the Health Sciences Centre, the Central Kitchen and Masonic Park nursing home, and continue in other locations over the next two weeks.
NAPE has also launched a province wide advertising campaign, which the union says has received significant attention.
"Following the budget, we immediately began to organize our efforts to fight back against this budget," said Earle.
"The support for our advertising campaign, for what we have been saying in the media about the cuts and the impact on our rural communities, our provinces young, elderly and most vulnerable, and from our membership has been extraordinary."
Protests are planned for Gambo April 23, Bonavista April 25, Bell Island April 26, Harbour Grace April 27, Wabush April 29, Burin May 3 and Grand Falls-Windsor May 4.