[GAGETOWN, NB] — Union officials opposed to job cuts among civilian defence workers at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown say they're disappointed three federal cabinet ministers refused to speak with them Tuesday.
Members of the Union of National Defence Employees say they were told to remain a short distance from where Peter MacKay, Keith Ashfield and Bernard Valcourt were making an infrastructure announcement in New Brunswick.
The union's national president John MacLennan says he wants to discuss why as many as 145 civilian employees at the base have received notices their positions could be affected by federal budget restraint.
Ashfield, who is the federal Fisheries minister and the MP for the area, says he'll meet with individual constituents, not unions.
Defence Minister Peter MacKay told reporters that the return of troops from missions abroad means fewer civilian employees are required.
He says he expects many of the affected employees will be offered other jobs in the civil service.
