[Video] Our Counter Offer

CUPE NB President Stephen Drost outlines Premier Higgs’ misleading statements about negotiations and explains CUPE’s counter offer which the Premier has not responded to. November 6, 2021.

Premier Higgs attempting to create mass confusion in public services to break CUPE strike

Fredericton, NB — Yesterday, Premier Higgs and Minister Ted Flemming announced that they were forcibly ending the strike for healthcare workers (CUPE Local 1252) and workers in health services supply chain and laundry and linen services (CUPE Local 1190 and 1251).

The mandatory order came into effect at 11:59pm. It became apparent this morning that although the order mandated all CUPE Local 1252 and some CUPE Local 1190 and 1251 members back to work, employers were informing some healthcare workers they were still on strike and needed to go back to the picket line.

“The Premier and Minister Flemming announced a mandatory order under the pretense of protecting the health and safety of New Brunswickers. However, we are now learning that many workers are being turned away from work today. We are questioning what the real goal of the order is,” said Norma Robinson, CUPE Local 1252 president and member of the Centralized Bargaining Team, “Mr. Higgs, you will not break our solidarity. We will not be divided”.

The CUPE locals will use every legal avenue available so members’ charter rights are protected. The Order appears to stifle free collective bargaining and is a direct attack on the Union that dared to stand up for frontline workers in this province.

“Our members were upset, but prepared to go back to work this morning,” said Brent Wiggins, CUPE Local 1190 president and member of the Centralized Bargaining Team. “Now, they are being told their services are not needed. Using heavy-handed tactics to attack members’ rights instead of signing a collective agreement is nonsensical.”

“The strike continues and we will see you in court,” said Chris Curran, President CUPE Local 1251 and member of the Centralized Bargaining Team.

Government breaks off talks: Strike Imminent

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Fredericton, October 27, 2021 – Mediated talks between the CUPE Centralized Bargaining Team and the government of New Brunswick ended today after the Government broke off the talks. “We moved significantly from our initial demand, expecting some reciprocity and goodwill from the government, but that did not happen, said Stephen Drost, President of CUPE NB.

While CUPE moved 8% off their initial 4-year demand of 20% over 4 years, the Government moved only moved up 2.25%. “It’s absurd. The conservatives want to force workers to take below cost of living wages, even if they already are the lowest paid of the lowest-paid public service workers in Canada,” said Drost. “To top it all, Higgs still expects a major concession!” said Drost.

GNB demand:    2% per year, 5-year contract.
CUPE demand: 3% per year, 4-year contract.

Most Locals have been waiting for government to conclude new collective agreements for more than 4 years. Workers’ wages have been stagnant over the previous 12 years.

TIMELINE:

  • Late May 28, 2021: CUPE NB delivers a “100 Day – Final Notice to Bargain” to government.
  • Late August: Higgs invites CUPE Locals to conduct centralized bargaining. Workers agree as long as talks are about wage increases, not concessions.
  • Early September: Talks break down, as Higgs and his cabinet ministers insist on tying his 0,25% yearly wage increases to a concession.
  • September-early October: All 10 locals conduct successful supermajority strike votes, with an average of 94% voting YES.
  • Early October – GNB declares a 14-day circuit breaker to deal with the 4th wave of COVID. CUPE offers to hold off strikes as a show of goodwill. The same day that CUPE announces a 14-day “truce,” the Premier continued his ongoing attacks on CUPE by reclassifying over 1900 LPNs out of CUPE Healthcare Local over to another union.
  • Mid-October: provincial fiscal update reveals a 4th consecutive budget surplus in the middle of a pandemic, with a 400 million surplus in last year’s budget. CUPE denounces how this surplus was made on the backs of workers and by under-resourcing public services.
  • October 22nd: CUPE proposes the intervention of a mediator to achieve an agreement. GNB accepts but refuses to significantly modify their offer and continues to insist upon concessions.

“CUPE has done all it can to settle this without disruption, but he is simply not hearing the call to treat front-line workers with fairness and dignity. He is pushing workers on strike, and that will happen very soon. Enough is enough,” concluded Drost.