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Roland Butler, Opposition Education Critic and MHA for the District of Port
De Grave, is strongly urging government to enact a form of whistle-blower
legislation that will protect the rights of public employees such as
teachers when they feel the need to publicly raise legitimate concerns
arising in their workplace. Whistle-blowers are employees who speak out to
protect themselves or the public from scandal, misconduct and compromised
working conditions. In recent months, the issue of teacher stress came to
the fore when two teachers were suspended for publicly raising educational
concerns.
"While government has distanced itself from the heavy-handed approach
taken against these teachers, all public employees must be given the
opportunity to raise concerns without the fear of repercussion," said Mr.
Butler. "To ensure these rights are solidly protected, whistle-blower
protection laws should be enacted.
"It is simply not good enough for government to insist that this issue is
being addressed through a process involving protocols and consultations. We
have seen that the Williams’ Government itself intimidates their concerned
employees into silence. The dismissal of Fabian Manning clearly demonstrates
that this government cannot be expected to uphold the rights of anyone who
speaks out. This climate of fear and intimidation has to cease."
Recently, NAPE, the province’s largest union, also called upon the
provincial government to consider this form of legal protection for
employees who raise concerns publicly. The federal government has also
reiterated a promise to introduce an Accountability Act to greatly
strengthen the protection now afforded to whistle-blowers under the
Public Disclosure Protection Act.
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