The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Newfoundland and Labrador is urging the provincial government to invest in public housing workers, arguing that public funds should be allocated toward expanding the workforce rather than being spent on private contracts that fail to meet housing demand.
“Our members are the ones on the ground, ensuring public housing is a quality service that provides safe and secure homes for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Jerry Butler, President of CUPE Local 1860. “We’re already on the books, so why does the Province continue to contract out our work at a higher cost?”
CUPE Local 1860 represents a wide range of workers employed by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, including maintenance workers, housing inspectors, electricians, and plumbers. According to the union, continuing to contract out public housing work to private companies leads to higher costs and insufficient service, making it harder to address the growing housing crisis.
Numerous studies have shown that public-private partnerships often come at a higher cost and lack the same level of quality and accessibility as in-house services. CUPE argues that if the provincial government invested in hiring more public housing workers for regular maintenance and repair work, it would prevent the need for expensive, large-scale renovations, ultimately saving taxpayer money.
In October, the provincial government announced a private contract in Labrador West, directing $1.3 million in public funds to construct four one-bedroom housing units and $470,000 to repair two three-bedroom units. Shortly afterward, the government issued a request for proposals to build 50 new provincially owned homes in Corner Brook.
“It’s clear that the government intends to continue using private contractors in the housing sector, to the detriment of communities across the province,” said Sherry Hillier, President of CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador. “These funds could be better spent by hiring public housing workers, providing jobs, and addressing the housing shortage at a lower cost to the province.”
CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador also criticized recent comments from Minister of Housing John Abbott, who downplayed the rising demand for affordable housing in the province. Hillier emphasized that the Minister’s stance does not reflect the reality faced by residents, many of whom are struggling to find affordable housing.
“The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are desperate for affordable housing,” Hillier said. “But our Minister of Housing claims that demand is not increasing. Anyone across this province could tell you that isn’t the case.”
The union argues that investing in public housing workers is a key step in addressing the housing crisis. Rather than continuing to funnel public funds into private contractors, CUPE believes that keeping taxpayer dollars in the public sector will result in more affordable, accessible housing for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“By investing in public housing workers, the province can address the housing crisis more effectively,” said Hillier. “It’s a matter of making a choice: invest in the people of Newfoundland and Labrador or continue paying private contractors to solve the problem.”
CUPE is calling on the provincial government to prioritize the hiring and support of public housing workers as part of a comprehensive approach to solving the province’s growing housing crisis.
