(St. Johns) The Canadian Union of Public Employees is considering legal action against Premier Danny Williams, after comments he made suggesting union members may have been involved in an incident where his son was injured in a fight in the St. Johns bar district.
CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador President Wayne Lucas says, By suggesting that the incident was somehow related to the province-wide strike thats now underway, Mr. Williams has impugned the character of 20,000 hard-working, law-abiding public employees.
In addition, by making these statements on national television, he has embarrassed our province on a national stage, says Lucas.
Lucas says, Williams also implied that people might be harassing his family or going near his home. By doing this, he has depicted public employees in Newfoundland and Labrador as hooligans.
CUPEs Legal Branch is now reviewing statements made by the premier with regard to the incident and will take action if we feel its warranted.
At the very least, says Lucas, We are asking the premier of the province to apologize to public employees for dragging them into what, by all accounts, was a totally unrelated event.
CUPE would never condone or encourage violence in any way, and we take exception to any such suggestion, says Lucas.
For information:
Wayne Lucas
President, CUPE NL.
727-2509
John McCracken
CUPE Communications Rep.
(902) 222-8457 (Cell)