Who we are

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is New Brunswick ’s largest union.

With over 28,000 members across the province, CUPE represents workers in health care, education, municipalities, universities, social services, transportation and nursing homes.

A strong and democratic union, CUPE is committed to improving the quality of life for workers in New Brunswick. Through united action, workers won the right to negotiate their wages and working conditions; to stop arbitrary action by employers; and to speak out without fear of reprisal. Together, we fight social and economic injustices in the workplace and in our communities.

Today, CUPE has 6 regional offices in municipalities across New Brunswick. Nationally, CUPE is Canada’s biggest union, with over 700 000 members.

 

CUPE NB Executive

CUPE NB is led by its members, for its members. It is a democratic organization. The executive of the Division, made up of nearly 20 members elected by members of the Provincial Congress, makes day-to-day decisions.

Steve Drost, CUPE NB President sdrost@cupe.ca

President

Stephen Drost
sdrost@cupe.ca
1st Vice-President
Sharon Teare
nbcnhu-csfsnb@bellaliant.net
Secretary-Treasurer Kimberly Copp
kimcopp16@gmail.com
Local 963
N.B. Liquor Corporation
Jamie Agnew
963prez@gmail.com
Local 1190 General Labour and Trades, Part I Jonathan Guimond
jonathanguimond@nb.aibn.com
Local 1251 Institutional Care and Services Chris Curran
cdcurran1@live.ca
Local 1252
N.B. Council of Hospital Unions
Norma Robinson
normamrobinson07@gmail.com
Local 1253
N.B. Council of School District Unions
Iris Lloyd
president@1253.ca
Local 1418 Rehabilitation and Therapy and RCPO Shawna Morton
shawna.morton67@gmail.com
Local 1840 Provincial Court Stenographer
Local 1866 Workplace Health, Safety, and Compensation Comm Ryan Wentworth
ryanwnwentworth@gmail.com
Local 2745 Educational Support Staff Theresa McAllister
theresa.mcallister@nbed.nb.ca
Local 5017
NB Community College
Chris Russell
chrisruss86@gmail.com
Local 5026
Collège communautaire du N-B.
Eric Ravelojaona
rav.eric2711@gmail.com
NB Council of Nursing Home Unions Sharon Teare
nbcnhu-csfsnb@bellaliant.net
N.B. Committee of Municipal Workers Jill Greene
Jillgreene24@gmail.com
Vice President-at-large / Vice-Président hors cadre Jason Tower
jtower75@hotmail.com
Vice President-at-large / Vice-Président hors cadre Serge Plourde
ksplourd@rogers.com

 

Standing Committees

Standing Committees are governed by the CUPE NB Division Constitution. Each Standing Committee works on a specific policy/program area and advises the Executive Board on actions to consider on behalf of CUPE members.While various committees have been designated as standing committees, this in no way precludes the possibility of other committees being established from time to time as may be required.
CUPE NB members shall only sit on one standing committee at a time. Members of the Executive Committee shall not be eligible to run for any of the standing committees. Currently, each committee must have a amongst its membership a Vice-President and a staff advisor as appointed in section 8.4 of the CUPE NB Constitution.
Currently, CUPE NB has eight standing committees:
  1. Education Committee
  2. Health and Safety and Environment Committee
  3. Contracting-out Committee
  4. Equality Committee
  5. Pensions and Insured Benefits Committee
  6. Women’s Committee
  7. Global Justice Committee
  8. Political Action Committee

Our locals

What is a CUPE Local?

A local union, often called local, is the branch of our union located close to where you live and/or work. Locals are typically designated by numbers, for example, CUPE Local 1234. They are made up of members like you and leadership you elect from your within your ranks. You belong to your local, which is within your province.

In New Brunswick alone, there are over 200 CUPE locals of various sizes. The smallest local has half a dozen members while the largest has almost 10,000 members.  Across Canada, there are more than 2,382 CUPE locals.  Nearly every community in the country has one or more CUPE locals. Many locals or sub-locals are affiliated to a provincial council to help coordinate together their bargaining, campaigns, lobby efforts and much more.

Leadership through membership

Fellow CUPE members are elected to leadership positions within their local.  Locals set their own bargaining demands, work with the national representative to negotiate their collective agreement, handle grievances with employers, and decide what issues the members want to support.

Major CUPE locals and councils across New Brunswick
Name
Description
Local 963
N.B. Liquor Corporation
Local 1190 General Labour and Trades, Part I
Local 1418 Rehabilitation, Therapy and RCPO (Recreation and Culture Program Officers)
Local 1840 Provincial Court Stenographers
Local 1866 Workplace Health Safety and Compensation Commission
Local 1251 Institutional Care and Services (Correctional and other)
Local 1252 New Brunswick Council of Hospital Unions (NBCHU)
Local 1253 NB Council of School District Unions
Local 2745 Educational support staff
Local 4598 Red Cross Home Care Workers
Local 4848 Paramedics and dispatchers
Local 5017 NB Community College
Local 5026 Collège communautaire du N.-B.
NBCSU NB Community Service Unions
NBCME NB Committee of Municipal Workers
NBCNHU NB Council of Nursing Home Unions

Affiliate

If your CUPE local is not yet affiliated with CUPE New Brunswick, just fill out the following form and send it by  email to Kim Copp at kimcopp16@gmail.com

Unionize your workplace

Throughout Canada, workers have the right to join a union and choose a union to represent them when dealing with their employer.

In CUPE the members are in charge. Each CUPE local decides its priorities for bargaining, when to settle a new contract, and how to manage funds. Together we maintain and improve wages and benefits, improve health and safety conditions, and make your workplace better.

There are over 700,000 CUPE members in Canada, and that number is growing. Most of our members work in the public service. We have members working in municipalities, education, health care, social services, airlines, communications, and more.

How to Join a Union In New Brunswick

Step 1: Contact CUPE

Call (506-458-8059) or email  sdelaney@cupe.ca. Ask to speak with an organizer. He or she is a specialist in labour law and will answer all your questions. All contacts with CUPE are confidential.

Step 2: Sign CUPE Membership Cards

Workers sign cards applying for membership in the union, and authorizing the union to represent them in negotiations with their employer. New Brunswick labour law requires CUPE to collect $1.00 from each worker when they sign a membership card.

Step 3: Card-Check Certification

If between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of workers sign cards, the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board (NBLEB)may certify the union automatically. If more than 60 per cent of the workers sign cards, the NBLEB will certify the union automatically. Go to step 5.

If between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of the workers sign membership cards, the NBLEB will hold a vote to see if workers want a union.

Step 4: Vote for CUPE

The NBLEB holds a secret ballot vote. Anyone who is in the bargaining unit the union applied to represent can vote. If the majority (50%+1) of workers who cast ballots vote to unionize, the union is certified.

Step 5: You now have a Union : time to negotiate!

The union will serve notice to your employer to begin bargaining your first contract. Your employer and CUPE representatives (including workers from your bargaining unit) sit down to negotiate the collective agreement. This agreement – the union contract – sets out the wages, benefits, working conditions, job security and other rights of the workers.

 


Remember that local certification process is confidential. Employers are not entitled to know who signed cards. Votes are held by secret ballot. Workers are protected by law from punishment by employers for engaging in union activity. This means that every worker in the province has the right to join a union if they choose. Joining a union means having the power to negotiate your terms of work with your employer, and usually means better pay, more benefits, a safer work environment, and fairness and dignity in the workplace. Union jobs are good jobs, and good jobs grow healthy and vibrant communities.

Join CUPE today, and email an organizersdelaney@cupe.ca

New Brunswick: 5 steps to local certification