NSGEU Disappointed with CBU’s Budgetary Decisions

Press Release

April 27, 2015

NSGEU Disappointed with CBU’s Budgetary Decisions.

Cape Breton – The NSGEU is concerned with Cape Breton University’s funding difficulties. Cuts to front-line staff, services and facilities, and wage freezes at Cape Breton University, will only hurt the community and the economy.

Cape Breton University announced on Friday they were cutting staff and shuttering their ice rink affecting three full-time jobs, including two NSGEU members who maintained the rink.

“This is not a good thing for Cape Breton. Every one of our jobs is important to our local economy and every job lost hurts,” says Jason MacLean, 1^st Vice President of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union. “Staff who maintain the ice rink have been proud to provide this service for the university and the larger community who enjoy using it.”

The loss of the ice rink will be felt in the community.

The university also announced they are considering asking for a voluntary wage freeze from its employees.

“Wage freezes are not good for the local economy. When wages are frozen, people fall behind as the price of other things rise,” says MacLean. “People will spend less which will hurt local businesses.”

NSGEU staff are working with the employer to minimize the impact of these cuts on the affected members. “We are also fighting the Liberal government’s continued underfunding of universities. No university should be forced to make these kind of decisions.”

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The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union represents over 30,000 women and men who provide quality public services Nova Scotians count on every day.

For more information, or to arrange an interview with NSGEU 1^st Vice-President Jason MacLean, please contact: Deedee Slye, NSGEU Communications Officer 902-424.4063 (office) 902-497-6761 (cell) dslye@nsgeu.ca