📢 CUPE NB Statement on International Women’s Day 📢

On March 8, we celebrate International Women’s Day, a day to recognize women’s achievements and renew our commitment to gender equality.

For CUPE NB, this means fighting for pay equity, better wages, and strong public services – Because economic justice is fundamental to gender justice. Women, especially in care, and service sectors, continue to face systemic wage discrimination. It’s time for action!

That’s why CUPE NB is proud to support the NB Coalition for Pay Equity and the Regroupement féministe du Nouveau-Brunswick in their call for feminist economic policies.

  • Join us for the International Women’s Day march!
    Meet at: Avenir Centre, Moncton – 12 p.m.
    Ending at: Aberdeen Cultural Centre – 1 p.m., with snacks & networking
    Bring your banners and show your support!

This is our best chance in decades to secure pay equity legislation for the private sector. The provincial government has promised action – now we must hold them to it!

A strong and united front line will make all the difference. 

Healthcare workers reach tentative agreement

The CUPE 1252 bargaining team is proud to inform its members that a tentative agreement was reached between Local 1252 and the employer (Vitalité and Horizon Health Networks, and Ambulance NB).

If ratified by the members, the new contract will cover the four years from late June 2024 to June 2028.

Members should expect to receive information from their local leadership on the content of the agreement, so they can cast an informed vote on whether to accept or reject the agreement. Your local leadership will keep you updated on the dates, times, and locations for the information presentations and voting.

95% of CUPE 1190 Members Vote in Favour of New Contract

The members of CUPE 1190 – the general labour and trades workers in New Brunswick – voted in favour of their new collective agreement by 95%.

Contract votes were conducted on February 18, in over 15 locations across New Brunswick. A total of 1246 members participated in the vote.

“We had been bargaining for over two years, and we were not moving with the previous government,” said Jonathan Guimond, president of CUPE 1190 and himself a heavy equipment operator for 20 years. “After our August 2024 strike vote, we got back to the table in January with the new government, and they took workers’ demands seriously,” added Guimond.

The new four-year contract contains a $5 flat rate general economic wage adjustment over those 4 years for all members. Many monetary gains on benefits/premiums were made, many of which had not been improved in over 20 years. This includes items such as boot and tool allowances, and improvements to vacation entitlement for all members, including casuals.

“Our team feels we secured a fair deal that will help improve retention and recruitment and recognizes the cost-of-living pressures our members are dealing with,” said Guimond.

“We are proud that this deal improves wages above inflation, contains no concessions, and improves worker recognition,” concluded Guimond.

CUPE Skilled Trades Summit Wraps Up with Strong Calls for Action

February 3, 2025, Fredericton, NB – CUPE’s Skilled Trades Summit concluded this Sunday afternoon after a weekend of discussions and planning among tradespeople in the public sector. Over 140 mechanics, carpenters, electricians, welders, millwrights, heavy equipment operators, and other skilled workers gathered to address pressing issues in their fields and strategize on improving working conditions.

CUPE National President Mark Hancock spoke to attendees on Friday evening, emphasizing the vital—but often overlooked—role that public sector tradespeople play in keeping our communities running. On Saturday, CUPE was honoured to welcome New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt as a guest speaker. In her address to workers, she spoke about getting rid of Bill 17, which unjustly stifled free collective bargaining and the importance of positive collaboration between labour and government. She also highlighted how she wants to see her government take more steps to improve labour relations in New Brunswick.

“In a time of uncertainty, with U.S. tariffs now imposed across Canada, it is more important than ever for government representatives to engage directly with frontline workers,” said Mark Hancock. “We’re pleased to see Premier Holt take the time to meet with workers and reaffirm her commitment to being part of the solution—working together to build a better New Brunswick for all.”

Following Premier Holt’s address, she met with CUPE leaders, including Mark Hancock, CUPE New Brunswick President Stephen Drost, and CUPE Maritimes Regional Director Sandy Harding, for a productive discussion about the challenges facing skilled trades workers. That very same morning, the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, Jean-Claude D’Amours, also addressed attendees.

The CUPE Skilled Trades Summit highlighted the need for fair wages and improved working conditions for public sector tradespeople. “Skilled trades workers play a major role in New Brunswick and the backbone of our public services.  For many years, their voices went unheard by previous governments. That’s why I am calling on all tradespeople to step up and get involved in their respective local. By working together, we can make a real difference.  We can lead the charge for fairness and respect, bring new apprentices in, and retain our amazing, experienced workers.” concluded Drost.

 

Bargaining update from CUPE 1190 – Jan 24

Will this new government keep the old habits of the former one? We hope not. Solidarity with 1190 members. We hope for a fair deal soon.
We invite you to call your local MLA. Let them know this province runs because of working people, and that includes those delivering the public services we all rely on!

Skilled Trades Summit in NB – Sommet des métiers spécialisés au N.-B.

Join us in person on January 31, 2025, to connect, learn, and discuss key issues impacting the trades sector in New Brunswick. This summit is for CUPE tradespeople working in New Brunswick. 
Register today: https://lu.ma/fiawk1ql

Download the event agenda: Agenda – Trades Workers Summit / Agenda du sommet des métiers

Joignez-vous à nous en personne le 31 janvier 2025 pour établir des liens, apprendre et discuter des questions clés qui ont une incidence sur le secteur des métiers au Nouveau-Brunswick. Ce sommet s’adresse aux gens de métier du SCFP qui travaillent au Nouveau-Brunswick.
Inscrivez-vous dès aujourd’hui : https://lu.ma/fiawk1ql

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?
Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [185.84 KB]

 

 

What you need to know about this election

Join us for this important webinar as we provide you with information for this upcoming election

October 12
October 15
October 18
October 19
Dial by your location
  • 647 374 4685 Canada
  • 647 558 0588 Canada
  • 778 907 2071 Canada
  • 780 666 0144 Canada
  • 204 272 7920 Canada
  • 438 809 7799 Canada
  • 587 328 1099 Canada

New Brunswick Provincial Party Leaders Meet with CUPE Leadership

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.

84% of CUPE Local 1190 Members Vote in Favour of Strike

Fredericton, NB, July 19, 2024 – The members of CUPE Local 1190, representing more than 2200 general labour and trades workers in New Brunswick, gave a strong strike mandate of 84% of voters in favour.  This decisive result sends a clear message to the employer that workers want a fair deal, and will not accept the weak proposal made by the province to its lowest-paid employees.
 
Strike votes were conducted on July 17 and 18, in over 21 locations across New Brunswick. The results confirm that the members are united and determined in their stance. 
“We have tried to bargain fairly for 20 months, but this government is again pushing workers towards a strike,” said Jonathan Guimond, President of Local 1190 and himself a heavy equipment operator for 20 years.
 
“We are urging the employer to return to the negotiating table and take workers’ demands seriously. Our goal is to secure a fair deal and improve public services, not to go on strike,” said Guimond. “We are prepared to go back to the bargaining table right away if this government is prepared to make offers in parity dollar amounts with other workers,” he added.
Meanwhile, as per the Public Sector Labour Relations Act (PSLRA), the union will go through the essential services designation process in the next weeks to be in a legal strike position.
Local 1190 will be holding information pickets throughout the province on August 5, 2024. “You will see our members at some of our Provincial Parks, Ferries, and community events. We encourage the public to come out and show their support,” concluded Guimond.

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.