CUPE NL is calling on the provincial government to hire public housing workers instead of spending public funds on private contracts that the union says falls short of housing demand.

Jerry Butler, the President of CUPE Local 1860, says their members are the ones ensuring that public housing is a “quality service” providing “safe and secure housing” to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The province announced in October that a $1.3 million contract was issued to a private company for the construction of four one-bedroom housing units in Labrador West and $470,000 for repairs to two three-bedroom units.

A request for proposals was also issued for the construction of 50 new provincially-owned homes in Corner Brook.