CUPE Nova Scotia questions Deputy Finance Minister's credibility on matters of 'fiscal restraint'

TRURO, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - Oct. 8, 2015) - CUPE Nova Scotia president Danny Cavanagh is questioning the credibility of Deputy Finance Minister George McLellan when it comes to preaching 'fiscal restraint'.

Says Cavanagh, "Nova Scotians might remember that it was McLellan who sat on a panel in 2006 which awarded members of the Nova Scotia Legislature a 21% pay raise.

"It's also worth asking if McLellan gets a bonus for achieving these proposed cuts. Is that where some of the 'savings' would go," he asks.

"As far is his concerns about what happens with any savings that might come from their attempt to wrestle concessions from our contracts, he won't have to worry about that because we won't be bargaining concessions," says Cavanagh.

On October 2, CUPE locals affected by the provincial bargaining mandate gathered for a strategy conference in Dartmouth. At that meeting, the locals made it clear they would not be bargaining any concessions in the upcoming round of contract talks.