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CUPE Local 1867 President Gareth Drinnan says the
early layoffs of the seasonal employees in Beechville will result in less
basic maintenance being done and warns it may be more costly to fix down the road.
The Transportation and Public Works Department is laying off five of its
20 CUPE members at the Beechville depot effective August 11. Drinnan says, “If
the regular maintenance is not done, there will only be more problems that are
costlier to fix next year. It is like, if you put off fixing your roof when it
has a small leak and by the next year you have to replace the entire thing.”
Drinnan explains, “The department gives you the same budget as last year but
if you have storm damage that eats up a significant portion of your budget,
you don’t get any more for your regular maintenance.” He adds, “Regular
maintenance on the roads should not have to suffer because you have a bad
spring season with higher than usual damage.”
Drinnan also expressed concern about the safety of the roads when regular
maintenance work is put off due to budgetary concerns which do not take into
account extra costs due to weather damage. For example he says, “Right now we
are marking dangerous spots with fluorescence cones with no money for repairs.”
CUPE 1867 President of the Nova Scotia Highway Workers, Gareth Drinnan
represents 1400 highway workers in the Province.
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For further information: Gareth Drinnan, President CUPE Local 1867,
(902) 499-5794