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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

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:

1. A comprehensive and transparent plan for recruiting and retaining bus drivers and maintenance staff, which includes offering competitive wages and benefits.
2. Bringing solutions at the bargaining tables: to improve staffing, the NB government must offer competitive and respectful wages for its staff.
3. More front-line workers, fewer managers: redirecting resources to frontline services that truly impact student safety, like hiring more drivers, mechanics, etc. to ensure that no bus operates without up-to-date safety checks.
4. Reinstatement of in-house services, such as bus bodywork and painting to reduce costs and improve efficiency. Invest in in-house repair rather than contracting out.

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 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

Important update on the recent court ruling regarding our injunction demand to stop the changes to the pension plans of CUPE members in education (Locals 1253 and 2745) and nursing homes (NBCNHU).

The Court of Kings’ Bench has just communicated that it would not agree to an injunction. Yet, remember this injunction ruling doesn’t decide if Bill 17 (the Pension Transfer Act) respects the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom or not.

We’re still going ahead with our Charter challenge. Injunctions against legislation remain notoriously challenging to achieve in New Brunswick. Yet, after multiple days in court on the injunction, we are confident our case has been made stronger by what we’ve been able to present in court to Juge Ivan Robichaud in regards to the injunction.

We will not let PC MLAs and Premier Higgs get away with breaking signed collective agreements. CUPE members, like all workers, deserve a dignified and secure retirement.

We remain unwavering in our commitment to defending the rights of our members and advocating for improved pensions.

The Locals are discussing the next steps and legal options. We will keep you updated.

Join us for the 2 last tour stops of the 2024 Mass Membership Meetings. Don’t forget, there is also a rally for workers’ rights planned in Fredericton on May 1st!