Union slams tourism minister's 'Euro-trip extravaganza'

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The union representing 550 tourism sector workers is slamming a taxpayer-funded European trip taken by Tourism, Heritage and Culture Minister Tammy Scott-Wallace and several staff members, and complaining that the province has cut some workers’ hours at tourist attractions.

On Thursday, Scott-Wallace admitted that King’s Landing, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and Acadian Village “will see reduced hours” for some workers, but noted that all provincial parks will have longer hours this season.

On Friday, however, a government spokesperson said that Acadian Village’s hours won’t actually be cut, and that Scott-Wallace was given “incorrect information” before she made her comments on Thursday.

Some workers’ hours at King’s Landing are being cut because the attraction will be open every day of the week, Scott-Wallace said. CUPE says overall, less workers than usual are being employed at the site, and those who are will work longer shifts.

The minister also suggested CUPE’s complaints are really more about ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with the province.

On Thursday, CUPE 1190 held a press conference in Fredericton, calling on Scott-Wallace “to explain why there’s money for her and her department to take a week-long trip to Europe, but no money to staff the province’s parks and tourist attractions as the summer tourism season approaches.”

CUPE has dubbed Scott-Wallace’s visit a “Euro-trip extravaganza.”

“In April, it was revealed that Scott-Wallace and her deputy took a week-long trip to the United Kingdom and France, where she racked up a $40,000 bill at public expense, with no discernible benefits to show for it,” read part of a press release accompanying the press conference.

“It came at the same time that her department cut the number of hours and weeks that New Brunswick parks and attractions will be open this summer, which will weaken the province’s tourism sector and damage the livelihoods of hundreds of workers and their families who bring those parks and attractions to life.”

The release also quoted CUPE 1190 president Jonathan Guimond.

“This short-sighted decision is going to negatively impact our province’s tourism sector, but it’s also going to have a dire effect on the livelihood of hundreds of the people who bring our parks and attractions to life,” Guimond said.

“It is the welcoming gestures and hospitality, along with the landscape maintained by the CUPE 1190 members, that make these parks such an enjoyable experience. To add insult to injury, while her decisions take food off our members’ tables, this minister is living it up on the New Brunswick taxpayers’ dime in Europe.”

Questioned by reporters about CUPE’s press conference, Scott-Wallace said that “certainly we can appreciate that they’re negotiating right now.”

Asked about the comments about her trip to Europe, Scott-Wallace said it’s “unfortunate that people who work in our parks and attractions would feel that any time the minister goes across the province, or outside of the province, or outside of the country to promote tourism and to bring new visitors … that they don’t see a value to that.”

She added that the workers are “incredible ambassadors to the province, as I hope that I am as well.”

“It’s not a vacation when I go on a work trip,” she said, adding that it’s likely that there’s “never been a tourism minister who hasn’t had to travel to build partnerships and to bring visitors to the province.”

Liberal Leader Susan Holt said the cuts to workers’ hours are “concerning” because workers didn’t get the hours they expected, and “because these are critical tourism assets to the province.”

Green MLA Kevin Arseneau said it’s “extremely sad” that some workers’ hours are being cut, and that he expects they will have problems getting Employment Insurance after the season ends.