Striking restorative justice workers protested outside Lunenburg West MLA Mark Furey’s office this morning.
Five workers from Halifax accompanied by several members of the local were in Bridgewater to discuss wage parity with Furey who is also the minister of both justice and labour relations.
The workers say their work closely aligns with that of probation officers but they make just over half what the officers do.
Case-worker Shila LeBlanc says after the government expanded the restorative justice program to include adults in 2016, their workload increased by 149 percent without any new staff being added.
“So when we stand here today, we basically are asking the government to fund the progam that it heralds so much fairly.”
The workers have been on strike for a month.
MLA Mark Furey met with the protestors outside his office.
MLA @MarkFurey1 speaking with striking CUPE restorative justice workers protesting in Bridgewater pic.twitter.com/5eP2anyjsC
— Ed Halverson (@edwardhalverson) August 24, 2018
He expressed his appreciation for the work they do and says he’s has been a supporter of restorative justice since his days in the RCMP.
However, Furey says he isn’t responsible for negotiating this particular contract.
“It’s not my role. The discussion in this present labour matter is between CUPE and the Community Justice Society Board in Halifax.”
Furey says he believes a solution can be found and it’s up to CUPE and the Community Justice Society to make that happen.
MLA @MarkFurey1 talks to striking restorative justice workers outside his office (video)#nspoli pic.twitter.com/rKJh4YuFnN
— Ed Halverson (@edwardhalverson) August 24, 2018
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
