Rumours are rampant that a provincial election call is coming sooner rather than later.

The new deal, which has yet to be ratified, affects 3,700 workers across the province — including Western Health, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing, and those in the education system such as teacher’s aides.

The president of the Treasury Board, Steve Crocker, denies that the timing of the announcement has anything to do with an election call.

telling reporters “absolutely not” in the House of Assembly yesterday, noting they had been working on the deal for some time.

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A tentative deal has been reached between the provincial government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

It amounts to a two-year extension of its current collective agreements with the province, covering the period from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2022.

The contract extensions must still be ratified by CUPE and the government, but the union is recommending their members accept the deal.

CUPE NL President Sherry Hillier said no details of the agreements will be released until after the ratification votes, adding union locals will soon be notified of voting dates.

CUPE represents approximately 3,700 provincial public service employees who work in health care, long-term care, NL Housing, school boards, libraries, Treasury Board and Government House, as well as transition houses and group homes.