From thetelegram.com

Finance Minister Cathy Bennett acknowledged Monday afternoon her department screwed up, and left an opportunity for the Registered Nurses' Union Newfoundland and Labrador (RNU) to hold the line on its contract for one year.

The government had to serve notice to the nurses of an intention to renegotiate within one month of their contract expiring at the end of June, and the Department of Finance missed the deadline.

"Given the fiscal environment that we are in and the priorities of our members, we felt that extending our contract was our best option at this time," union president Debbie Forward said Monday, surrounded by union board members at RNU headquarters in St. John's.

Union members were not willing to accept any cut in benefits, but there had been no discussions with the government to this point, Forward said.

"What this means is our salary stays the same for the next year and our benefits stay the same," Forward said.

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