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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