CUPE 1190: Unnecessary Cuts Lead to Dangerous Roads

Fredericton – CUPE Local 1190, representing New Brunswick highway workers, held a news conference today to outline its concerns about reductions by the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure to the Winter Maintenance Program.

Andrew Hardy, CUPE 1190 President, shows the hotline ad

At the conference, CUPE Local 1190 officially relaunched their “Bad Road Hot Line” for tracking road conditions following the reductions to the Winter Maintenance Program.

“We are asking the government to reverse past cuts: reducing the Winter Maintenance Program in a province like New Brunswick is really not an option,” said Andy Hardy, president of CUPE Local 1190.

Hardy listed several reductions that have resulted from pasts cuts in the Winter Maintenance program:

  • 26 plows and graders will not be available to plow the roads; this on top of the 29 pieces of heavy equipment that were parked in 2013, which means DTI is now working with 55 fewer pieces of equipment;
  • 70 less operators in the Winter Maintenance Program since 2013-2014;
  • No spare operators will be available in some divisions around the province;
  • Reduced sand and salt budgets.
  • $6.2 million have been given to the Quebec consulting firm PVA, money that’s leaving the province and could be used on New Brunswick roads.

“CUPE Local 1190 members take a great deal of pride in keeping our roads safe and clear, but with each round of budget cuts, this is becoming increasingly difficult,” says Hardy.

This year, a window of opportunity will open to undo privatized plowing and P3 highways: the Moncton-Fredericton highway P3 contract with MRDC expires on January 1st, 2017, and will be up for renegotiation.

From left to right: Bill Cameron, CUPE 4848; Brian Watson, CUPE 1253, Andrew Hardy, President CUPE 1190; & David Perkins, CUPE National Representative.

“Private sector plowing costs more and is less efficient than public sector highway work. This government has a chance to make a deal for our citizens’ safety. It’s time to bringing the work back in-house” concluded Hardy.