A Protest by CUPE local 963 representing the employees of NB Liquor attending the event at the Pennfield Elementary School yesterday (Thursday, October 25th).
CUPE representative Marcos Salib tells Tide News they are concerned over the privatization being done by the province. Salib says, "..obviously, when you have assets, you should not be selling those assets. That's money that brings tax revenues, money that stays in the communities." He adds, "We are very concerned about those closures and the loss of employment as well."
The provincial government previously announced the closure of NB Liquor stores in St. George and Bristol, replacing them with much smaller agency stores that will be privately owned.
Joanne Murray who currently works at the St. George NB Liquor store tells Tide News after 33 years, she was asked to pick a different store. She says she was given the option to pick between a location in St. Stephen, St. Andrews, or any location in Saint John. Murray says she is not sure what she wants to do, as her husband is sick and at the moment she works only four minutes from home. She says she is worried what the winter months will bring having to travel on the highway so far between home and her job if she chooses another NB Liquor location. Murray adds that NB Liquor offered her another position for the same pay and travel expenses would be paid, but only for the first three months.
CUPE Local 963 President Martha Thompson tells Tide News they are upset over the privatization of taxpayer-owned NB Liquor stores. She says, "I want them (the provincial government) to reverse their decision. The agency stores don't give the customer service, they don't have the product knowledge we have, and the people in those communities deserve a real liquor store."
CUPE is asking the provincial government to reverse their decision to close the NB Liquor locations in St. George and Bristol as the communities need the local jobs.
