St. John’s – CUPE NL President Wayne Lucas says he’s encouraged by news this week that Quebec is urging the other provinces – especially the Atlantic provinces – to support its demand for immediate changes to the Harper Government’s employment insurance reforms.
Lucas says the reforms have sparked widespread protest against Ottawa since last spring.
Says Lucas, “Quebec’s call to action is a response to a provincial task force there that concluded the new EI rules have had a devastating impact on the unemployed, especially women and seasonal workers.” Harper’s Bill C-38 changed much of the way the EI system runs so that it now favours employers who are offering low wage jobs. The changes affect all those who are regular EI claimants, including those receiving fishing benefits or other seasonal employment.
Says Lucas, “Already in our country fewer than 40% of unemployed workers qualify for EI even though they are unemployed through no fault of their own.” Lucas says he hopes this prompts the Dunderdale Government to get on board with Quebec and other provinces who are calling for changes to the EI cuts.
For information:
Wayne Lucas
President, CUPE NL
(709) 727-2509 (m)
John McCracken
CUPE Communications Representative
(902) 880-8057 (m)