Government plans a wage freeze

On March 12, 2009, the government told the public sector unions that they want us to accept a two-year wage freeze.  The freeze would also mean there would be no improvement in any other provisions that cost money.  Our immediate response was that we believe in free collective bargaining without government interference and we will deal with the financial situation at the bargaining table, as we have in the past.

Shortly after this, the government sent proposals to our groups currently in collective bargaining for four-year collective agreements, the last two years with no increase in wages.  Their offer of wages in the non-zero years did not even match recent settlements of other groups in the public service.  Our groups currently at the bargaining table unanimously rejected this attempt to interfere with the normal process of bargaining.

Groups in bargaining stand strong

The groups currently in bargaining include Local 1190 (General Labour and Trades, Part I), Local 1840 (Court Stenographers), Local 2745 (Educational Support Staff in School Districts).  For Local 1190, they even went further and wanted to extend a winter maintenance program that the parties had not yet discussed at the table.

Another large group at the table was the CUPE Council of Nursing Home Unions.  They reached and signed a tentative agreement with their employer, the N.B. Association of Nursing Homes, even prior to the meeting with the Premier.

The Union ratified the agreement with their membership; however, the government is still trying to scuttle this deal.  The government has resorted to threats and misleading information to get our members to alter the tentative agreement and add a two-year freeze, but our members have stood strong.

N.B. Union and N.B. Nurses’ Union have signed letters agreeing to the government’s policy of a two-year wage freeze for their members in nursing homes.  They have accepted a two-year wage freeze for all their other public sector members.

Actions speak louder than words

The government is telling everyone that they will honour existing collective agreements, and of course they should.  Their actions so far are not very reassuring -- it seems they are determined to impose their wage freeze without regard to the legal bargaining process.  We are looking at all options to ensure that our right to free collective bargaining is respected as it should be – a right guaranteed by the Charter of Rights.

Your collective strength and solidarity is the best defense of your rights.  Many of you, and those before you, fought to protect this right and we now must rise to the challenge to defend it.

For accurate updates, keep in touch with your local union executive and go to nb.cupe.ca

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