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(Truro) – The union representing three local child welfare agencies in Truro, Pictou County and Port Hawkesbury says it is deeply disappointed with their employers’ decision to centralize their services under the Department of Community Services.

CUPE Nova Scotia President Danny Cavanagh says, “Sadly, this is the final chapter to a wrong-headed idea that was started by the previous Progressive Conservative government.
The elimination of all local child welfare agencies in this province is now complete.  We believe communities in rural Nova Scotia will suffer as a result of these changes.”

We said it was a bad idea eight years ago when they started down this road and we continue to believe this change will not serve the needs of communities who rely on these critically important services,” says Cavanagh.

CUPE Local 3928 President John Atwater, who represents employees at the Children’s Aid Society of Pictou County, says, “CUPE has always supported changes that will ensure services are delivered in the best interests of children and families in need, but we do not believe those needs are better met by centralizing all of those decisions in one location.

What’s equally disturbing though is the lack of any real input from frontline workers throughout the process on many aspects of these changes,” he says. 

Two other local agencies in Cape Breton moved under the control of the department on March 31 of this year.  The switch over of the last three is expected to be complete by October 31, 2010.
 
For information: 

Danny Cavanagh     
President, CUPE Nova Scotia  
CUPE (902) 957-0822 (Cell)    

John Atwater 
President, Local 3928
(902) 759-8068 

John McCracken
Communications Representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)