Finance Minister Tom Osborne is calling the timing of CUPE’s decision to reject a government offer to extend their current contract “highly suspect”.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees this week served notice that they are willing to put “boots on the ground” if a new collective agreement can’t be negotiated. The union has concerns about pensions and the current contract language and rejected the offer to extend for two years.

CUPE’s concerns are being raised in the midst of a ratification vote by NAPE members on the same offer, and Osborne says it’s not the first time CUPE has done so.

The same thing happened during the last round of public sector negotiations, when concerns were raised by CUPE during NAPE’s ratification process.

The fact that it’s happening again says Osborne shows it’s not coincidental.

He calls it “highly suspect” and “disappointing”.