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CUPE provincial leaders met with the leaders of the NB NDP, the NB Green Party and the NB Liberal Party at the CUPE Maritimes office in Fredericton. The meetings focused on crucial issues facing workers in New Brunswick, including the need for flat wage increases and repairing the broken labour relations and collective bargaining process.
The meetings were attended by key CUPE leaders, including Sharon Teare, President of the NB Council of Nursing Home Unions; Iris Lloyd of CUPE 1253 (school bus drivers, custodial and maintenance workers); Jonathan Guimond of CUPE 1190 (General Labour and Trades); Norma Robinson, of CUPE 1252, the NB Council of Hospital Unions; Chris Curran of CUPE 1251, Institutional Services and Care; and Theresa McAllister, of CUPE 2745 (Educational Support Staff) CUPE NB President Stephen Drost and CUPE Maritimes Regional Director Sandy Harding. These leaders had productive in-person discussions with Alex White of the NDP, David Coon of the Green Party, and Susan Holt of the Liberal Party. Notably absent was Premier Blaine Higgs, who did not respond to the invitation.
Jonathan Guimond, President of CUPE 1190, emphasized the importance of these discussions in addressing workers’ needs. “Flat wage increases are the fairest way to ensure that all workers, especially those on lower incomes, receive equitable pay raises. When we break it down into real dollars, it’s clear that percentage-based raises disproportionately hurt lower-paid workers, like thousands of CUPE members, ” said Guimond.
As New Brunswick’s biggest union, this also means CUPE represents the biggest proportion of the lowest paid classifications in the NB public service. A month ago, CUPE 1190 members have voted to strike on this very issue. “The need for a fair flat rate is something that, thankfully, all parties in attendance acknowledged,” noted Guimond.
The meetings also highlighted the importance of wage increases that go beyond inflation. “Commitments to real wage increases are essential,” said Norma Robinson, President of the NB Council of Hospital Unions. “Workers need wages that not only keep pace with inflation but also allow them to live with dignity. This is a fundamental issue that CUPE will continue to advocate for as we approach the provincial election on October 21st,” added Robinson.
The discussions were a positive step towards improving labour relations in New Brunswick, a key concern for CUPE members across the province. The participating political leaders expressed understanding and support for the need to fix the broken labour relations and collective bargaining process.
As the provincial election approaches, CUPE will continue to engage with political leaders to ensure that the voices of workers are heard and that their concerns are addressed.
CUPE Local 1190 represents over 2200 general labour and trades workers throughout New Brunswick, working in more than eight departments, with the bulk of the membership employed by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture (provincial parks). This includes classifications such as machinists, labourers, school bus/truck and equipment mechanics, welders, heavy equipment operators, artisans, healthcare linen/laundry drivers, bridge workers, maintenance workers, provincial ferry operators, NB housing workers, and many more.
All Local 1190 members are called to vote on the 17 and 18th of July 2024. Members are encouraged to vote in their respective sub-unit locations:
Click on the image to go to a Google map of all voting locations for CUPE 1190
| 1 | In front of DTI garage, 88 Hayes Road, Nash Creek, NB (sub-unit 1) |
| 2 | Royal Canada Legion, 34 Union Street, Campbellton, NB (sub-unit 1) |
| 3 | Goodie Shop, 20 Foutain Head Lane, Miramichi, NB (sub-unit 2) |
| 4 | ABC Business Centre, 216-102 Norwood Avenue, Moncton, NB (sub-unit 3) |
| 5 | Lower Cape Community Centre, 4480 Route 114, Lower Cape, NB (sub-unit 3) |
| 6 | Valley Watters Municipal Building, 10 Municipal Street, Norton, NB (sub-unit 4) |
| 7 | Royal Canadian Legion, 119 King Street, Chipman, NB (sub-unit 5) |
| 8 | Fredericton Inn, Salon E, 1315 Regent Street, salon E, Fredericton, NB (sub-unit 6) |
| 9 | Elks Club, 123 Connell Street, Woodstock, NB (sub-unit 7) |
| 10 | Co-op Carleton, 8818 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol, NB (sub-unit 7) |
| 11 | St. Stephen Curling Club, 1 George Street, St. Stephen, NB (sub-unit 8) |
| 12 | Herring Cove Park, 135 Herring Cove Road, Welshpool, NB (sub-unit 8) |
| 13 | Ray Hall Garage, Across from Gov. Garage, 108 Mount Pleasant Road, St. George, NB (sub-unit 8) |
| 14 | New River Beach Park, 80 New River Beach Road, New River Beach, NB (sub-unit 8) |
| 15 | Roman Catholic Church Community Centre, 12 School Street, Rexton, NB (sub-unit 9) |
| 16 | Scouts Club Saint-Basile, 890 Rue Principale, St-Basile, NB (sub-unit 10) |
| 17 | Behind Saint-Quentin Public Library16 Rue Deschênes, Saint-Quentin, NB (sub-unit 10) |
| 18 | Bairds Memorial Campground, site 48 on river bank, 12255 Route 105, Perth-Andover, NB (s-u 11) |
| 19 | Centre communautaire de Bois-Blanc 1560 Route 135, Bois-Blanc, NB (sub-unit 12) |
| 20 | Comfort Inn, 1170 St. Peter Avenue, Bathurst, NB (sub-unit 12) |
| 21 | CUPE Office basement, 208 Lancaster Avenue, basement, Saint John, NB (sub-unit 13) |
Contact your Local Area Vice-President or Local 1190 at 1-800-561-1190 to confirm date and time of strike vote.
Veuillez contacter votre vice-président régional ou la section locale 1190 au 1-800-561-1190 pour confirmer les dates et heures du vote de grève.
Fredericton, NB – Wednesday, CUPE Local 1190 held a press conference to announce that the NB Labour and Employment Board just declared a formal deadlock in contract talks between the union and the provincial government.
CUPE 1190, which represents over 2100 members such as labourers, park employees, mechanics, equipment operators, maintenance repair workers, maintenance, and tradespeople, has expressed frustration over the government’s unwillingness to offer fair and equitable wages. As a result, a strike could commence as early as late July, potentially impacting vital services such as provincial parks, ferries, and provincial road and bridge repairs/operations.
Jonathan Guimond, President of CUPE 1190, voiced his disappointment with the government’s stance. “Our collective agreement has been expired since December 2022. Despite years of record surpluses, this government has shown no appetite to address the wages of some of the lowest-paid tradespeople in the country,” said Guimond. “We have been in bargaining talks with GNB since November 2022, and we moved quite a bit from our original demands, but the province has not reciprocated.”
The negotiations have been ongoing for 19 months without reaching a satisfactory conclusion. This prolonged period of fruitless discussions has pushed the membership’s patience to its limit. “We do not want to repeat 2021 when GNB sat on an expired contract for over four years until workers forced them to move with a strike,” Guimond added.
The median wage for a Local 1190 member is $25.44 an hour, with over 50% of the membership in lower-paid classifications, such as park employees and labourers, earning as little as $20.67 an hour, and higher-paid classifications, such as communications supervisors, earning $33.33 an hour. GNB’s last bargaining package had wage adjustments totalling $3.25 an hour of increase at the end of a four-year contract (2022-2025) for someone earning the median wage of $25.44. “That means even lower increases for 50% of the membership earning less than that hourly wage, which does not address the cost-of-living pressures felt by workers,” said Guimond.
“The government’s proposed wages are insufficient to deal with recruitment and retention. They fail to recognize how investing in our frontlines will save our province money,” said Guimond. “They recognize this at the municipal level, where trades peoples along with other classifications in municipalities such as Edmundston, Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton, earn nearly $5 to $10 more per hour,” he added.
The union’s official last pass in bargaining was at $7.25/hour and other benefits by the end of a three-year contract. In a final attempt to avoid job action, the bargaining team presented a one-time opportunity of a $6 wage increase and other benefits over four years, which the employer turned down on June 28. Consequently, the union filed for a deadlock.
If the employer does not show a willingness to have constructive talks, CUPE 1190 will move ahead with strike votes over the next few weeks. “Enough is enough, this government cannot ignore blue-collar workers any longer,” Guimond emphasized.
Despite the deadlock, the union remains hopeful that constructive talks can resume so a strike is avoided. “We don’t want to see picket lines going up this summer, which would create disruptions for residents in parks, ferries, and highway operations. Rather, workers want a fair contract,” said Guimond. “We call on the government to engage in negotiations that respect the value of workers and acknowledge the retention issues and cost-of-living realities they face.”
CUPE 1190 represents over 2100 general labour and trades workers throughout New Brunswick, working in more than eight departments, with the bulk of the membership employed by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and the Department of Tourism, Heritage, and Culture (provincial parks). This includes classifications such as machinists, labourers, school bus/truck and equipment mechanics, welders, heavy equipment operators, artisans, healthcare linen/laundry drivers, bridge workers, maintenance workers, provincial ferry operators, NB housing workers, and many more.
CUPE Local 1252 reveals damning findings from the NB Auditor General’s report. Instead of investing in our hardworking in-house healthcare workers, the NB government has funneled over $175 million into for-profit staffing agencies.
Here’s the shocking truth:
💸 Public sector PSWs: $23/hr 💸 Private contracted PSWs: Up to $162/hr 💸 Public sector nurses: $30-$46/hr 💸 Private contracted nurses: Up to $306/hr
And it gets worse… 🔍 No receipts required for expenses like flights, meals, and hotels. 📝 Contracts written entirely by staffing companies with no oversight. ⚖️ No legal review of any contracts. 🕒 Companies billing for 12-hour shifts when working as few as 3.5 hours.
While our government nickel-and-dimes public sector workers, it’s rolling out the red carpet for corporate predators. Enough is enough! It’s time to put an end to this corporate welfare and invest in our public healthcare workforce.
As representatives of the school bus drivers of New Brunswick (CUPE 1253) and the Vehicle Management Agency mechanics and workers who repair school buses (CUPE 1190), we wish to highlight the work done by NB Auditor General Paul Martin. The Department’s need to improve working conditions and do better has been revealed by Mr. Martin to the public.
Auditor Martin’s report reinforces how our school bus system needs proper resources and attention from this government. When a government does not take responsibility for delivering public services properly, it puts our children and workers at risk. That is unacceptable.
Local 1190 mechanic, at one of the Vehicle Management Agency garages (VMA) in Fredericton
The core of these issues lies not just in the physical state of our buses, but in the persistent inaction from the highest levels of our government. For years, Locals 1253 and 1190 have called on their employers about the urgent need for fair wages, improved recruitment, and retention of qualified bus drivers, mechanics and inspectors, and an efficient management that supports its staff. These demands have repeatedly fallen on deaf ears.
We have continually advocated for implementing a comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy. However, our calls for action have been ignored.
The report’s findings of missing paperwork and a lack of training evidence make bus drivers including mechanics, mechanic supervisors, and automotive inspectors look bad, when it is the employer’s responsibility to keep adequate records, ensure training is properly carried out, and that all certifications are up to date.
Minister Bill Hogan’s recent comments, expressing shock at the magnitude of the issues, only confirm what we have known for years: that there is a serious disconnect between the realities on the ground and the actions of those in power. Minister Hogan’s acknowledgment of the “serious and significant issues” is a step forward, but words are not enough. We need concrete actions and accountability.
CUPE Local 1190, responsible for bus inspections and repairs, also shares these concerns. Our members, including mechanics, mechanic supervisors, and automotive inspectors, are hired by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) but managed by the Vehicle Management Agency (VMA). We have seen numerous job postings re-advertised multiple times due to them not being filled. Reports from our members indicate they are working short-staffed, with workloads disproportionate to the number of employees available to ensure our buses are safe. The absence of a response from the director of VMA on the auditor general’s report is adding to the concerns.
We have also received information from former members who have left VMA for a $5 to $10 wage increase in other sectors. Over the years, we have seen significant cuts; previously, we conducted our own bodywork and painting. Now, more and more of this work is being outsourced at a much higher cost—three to four times the cost of doing it in-house.
Our members are dedicated employees who ensure the safety and well-being of our children every day. Yet, they are often forced to work under precarious conditions, with low wages that do not reflect the critical nature of their work. Meanwhile, excessive management personnel fail to provide the necessary oversight and support, further exacerbating these issues.
CUPE Locals 1253 and 1190 demand immediate and sustained action from the Higgs government and Minister Hogan. We call for:
The safety of our children is non-negotiable. It is time for the government to stop ignoring the voices of those on the front lines and take meaningful action to rectify these long-standing issues. CUPE Locals 1253 and 1190 stand ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure that our school transportation system is safe, reliable, and respected.
Jonathan Guimond – President of CUPE 1190
Iris Lloyd – President of CUPE 1253
May 29, 2024
📺 May 28, 8:30 PM – Don’t miss the Live TV debate on the state of healthcare in New Brunswick! Hosted by Terry Seguin, airing on ROGERS TV New Brunswick. Sponsored by the New Brunswick Council of Hospital Unions CUPE local 1252.
If the media player above does not work, tune in here: https://rogerstv.com/show?lid=12&rid=18&sid=11563
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