While working out the details on the government's plan to move two departments out of Charlottetown, the Union of Public Sector Employees said it would like the government to scrap the idea.

Shelley Ward is expecting a lot of help from the government for her members.
(CBC)

UPSE met with the government on Friday to discuss the plan to move the Department of Fisheries and Rural Development to Montague, and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to Summerside.

The union is not a willing partner in the move, union leaders said, and they expect workers to get a lot of support from the province to cope.

"We would hope to see some relocation coverage. We would hope to see some travel coverage, maybe even some child care, increased insurance costs," said union president Shelley Ward.

The plan to move the departments was first announced in the throne speech on April 4.

UPSE intends to launch a campaign to convince the province to keep the departments in Charlottetown.

"This is not just a financial burden on the government and taxpayers at best, but on every single employee," said Ward.

Some employees live on one end of the Island and would have to drive to the other end to get to work after the move, she said.

The government is willing to work with the union on transferring some members working in education or fisheries into jobs in other departments closer to their homes, said Ward, but that won't be possible for everyone.