“Overworked” and “understaffed” were two of the first words that came to Ashley Carew’s mind when describing her work as a lab technician at the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s.

She was one of several health-care professionals at a negotiating convention hosted by Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees this week. These conventions are held near the expiration date of contracts so members can make suggestions for their next collective agreement.

Some of NAPE’s collective agreements are set to expire in March, but notices haven’t been served yet because a new Newfoundland and Labrador government is incoming.

Carew said she loves her job, but she feels unseen.

“We are behind the scenes and a lot of health care can't happen without us.”

NAPE president J

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