SYDNEY, NS – The union representing workers with the Children’s Aid Society of Cape Breton-Victoria says a meeting scheduled with the new interim executive director of the agency and the Department of Community Services should give all three parties a chance to sit and discuss current issues.
CUPE National Representative John Evans says, “CAS workers are continuing to feel very frustrated with comments in the media and elsewhere that can only be described as ill-informed, following a recent Family Court judge’s opinion against the agency.
“Crushing workloads continue to plague CAS workers and it is time the provincial government addressed these systemic problems,” says Evans.
Evans says, “The members of CUPE Local 3010 are certainly keen on hearing what the new interim executive director and the Department are prepared to do to address chronic problems with heavy workloads and an undue emphasis on filing reports versus direct contact with clients.”
Says Evans, “Can there be improvements made to the current system of child welfare? You bet there can be, but it has to start with a realistic assessment of what constitutes a reasonable workload for workers in this sector.
“CUPE’s position on all of this is clear. The Department of Community Services is responsible for ensuring there are adequate resources in place to meet the standards that they set.
“We look forward to discussing how that gets done with both the Minister’s office and the new interim executive director of CAS Cape Breton-Victoria,” he says.
For information:
John Evans
CUPE National Rep.
539-4933 (o)
John McCracken
CUPE Communications Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (0)
jmccracken@cupe.ca
cope491