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Roland Butler, opposition
critic for Human Resources and Employment and MHA for Port de Grave
district, says officials within that department have acknowledged that
client services are being compromised because of the shortage of front line
workers in the department.
"In an internal e-mail which was sent
around to employees on January 21, 2004, a member of management acknowledged
they are having serious problems. The e-mail invites people to work overtime
hours ‘to assist with some of the considerable backlog of work.’
The e-mail also stated: "We, as
management, recognize that everything cannot get done in a timely manner
when we carry vacancies as we do."
Butler says requesting that staff work
overtime is not a solution to this serious problem. "Given the fact
that the department is offering time off in lieu of pay for overtime, we
will likely see a more serious crisis in the future as people take the leave
which they have earned."
The Liberal MHA is accusing the Conservative
government of creating a social deficit as they try to eliminate the
financial deficit. "I have been asking for these vacancies to be filled
for the past several months and it seems that this government is ignoring
this serious problem."
"The most alarming admission in this
e-mail from senior management is that ‘clients are being compromised from
a financial perspective so we need to clear this up.’ I call on the
minister to immediately hire replacement workers so that essential services
can be reinstated. " |