NAPE is raising the alarm over what it’s calling “significant concerns” stemming from “workplace issues” it has been made aware of at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
President Jerry Earle was responding to questions from VOCM News regarding alleged instances of bullying and harassment in the department.
Earle says the union has been made aware of issues that have affected the number of Highway Enforcement Officials available for work.
He says in 2008 the province had about 47 highway enforcement officers, and today that number is down to 21 for the entire province.
The officers are responsible for ensuring things such as school buses and transport trucks are safe to operate on the road.
Earle says they are also sometimes called on by police to assist with accidents. However, he says most recently, officers have not been available to assist with some significant accidents because of existing job vacancies. Earle indicates that among the remaining officers, some are off because of “the environment they’re working in.”
Earle says what they’ve been hearing from members, and which appears to be getting worse, is that officers are concerned they cannot effectively and efficiently do their jobs.
When incidents happen, he says officers are concerned that if they had sufficient numbers to inspect vehicles properly the incident could have been prevented.
Earle says in fairness, the issues haven’t been addressed at the lower levels, and they are hoping to speak with to Digital Government and Service NL Minister Sarah Stoodley to make her aware of what’s going on.
VOCM News has reached out to the department for comment.