NEWS RELEASE – January 30, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Union Rejects Town’s Offer to Maintain Defined Benefits Pension Plan for Current and Future Employees

Talks continued yesterday between the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and CUPE Local 2019. In an effort to settle the dispute, the Town responded to the Union’s concerns regarding pension issues and provided an offer that allowed for a defined benefit pension plan for all current and future employees.

The offer respects the Union’s position for a defined benefit pension plan while still considering the impact on taxpayers of carrying forward the cost of delivering that type of pension plan. The defined contribution pension plan was taken off the table and a wage adjustment proposed that provides a fair deal for the employees, a fair deal for the Town, and a fair deal for the community. The Union rejected this offer and countered with a higher and more costly financial package than its previous offer.

“We know this has been a very trying time for the community. The 11th Council of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay has worked very hard to find a way to balance the Union pension requests with the cost to the taxpayers of the Town,” stated Mayor Snook. “Obviously this was not just about pensions as the Union has repeatedly stated.”

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