Brien Watson Elected CUPE NB President

Fredericton, April 15 2019 – On Saturday, close to 350 public employees and elected union leaders voted for Brien Waston as President of the NB division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees during CUPE NB’s 56th annual convention.  Stephen Drost was elected as the Division vice-president.

Five candidates ran in this election: Andrew Hardy, Norma Robinson, Stephen Drost, Serge Plourde and Brien Watson.

Brien Watson – CUPE NB President

Daniel Légère, outgoing CUPE NB president, had announced a year ago that he would not reoffer.

“I have been President for 14 years. I want to take on other challenges and dedicate more time to my grandchildren,” said Légère.

“I am honoured CUPE members put their confidence in me. My misson is clear : build our members’ power, obtain better wages, working conditions and fairness for New Brunswickers,” said Brien Watson.

“Our Bargaining Forward campaign is now well under way. I am confident Watson has all it takes to not only maintain but to grow the movement. Brien has what it takes to motivate members and build the strength to break government’s wage restraint mandate,” said Légère.

Cuts in Tourism are Not an Achievement: Local 1190

CUPE Local 1190, which represents provincial park and tourism workers, denounces the 8 million dollar cut made by Premier Higgs and Minister Gauvin to the Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture.

The only detail Gauvin has issued was that cuts would be entirely borne by Tourism, and mainly in advertising and promotion.

“Without advertising, how will tourists know about everything our province has to offer?”, said Brent Wiggins, president of CUPE Local 1190.

At a time when the dollar is forecasted to sink to a record low of 62 USD, Local 1190 believes the smart move would be to invest in workers and by producing ads targeting Americans.

“I fear that with 8 million less, it will reduce traffic in our parks, and this will in turn decrease revenues for NB. For every public dollar invested in promoting New Brunswick as a tourism destination, there is an estimated return of $3.19 to the province,” said Wiggins.

“Tourism staff are those who make or break your experience in parks and attractions. Workers in our provincial treasures such as Kings’ Landing and the Village Historique Acadien are underpaid; they earn on average $14/hour. Part of this 8 million could have been reallocated to fix the casual workers rates. They are currently only paid 80% of the wage that a full-time employee earns, even if they are doing the same work. This is a shame,” said Wiggins.

Local 1190 represents over 1,500 employees, including tradespersons, operations workers, maintenance repair workers and labourers working at the Departments of Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as Tourism, Heritage and Culture.

Workers Left Behind in Higgs’ 2019-2020 Budget

This week, New Brunswick’s Finance Minister Ernie Steeves presented the provincial budget, an ideologically conservative document with little to no tangible investments made to improve public services or workers’ wages.

This year, federal transfers to New Brunswick were increased so provincial government could invest in people to kick-start our sluggish economy. These transfer payments are usually destined for public sector stimulus in hospitals, schools, nursing homes and more. Yet, Premier Higgs did exactly the opposite, and claimed this money, combined with cuts in multiple departments, as a surplus.

“Not only are they trying to balance the budget on the backs of working people through cuts, they are also taking federal money and passing this off as their achievement,” said Daniel Légère, president of CUPE NB.

“The 49 million Minister Steeves has allocated for debt payment – which comes from his “surplus” and cuts in capital assets –  should have gone to the front-line workers, who need wage increases that go beyond inflation,” said Légère.

Similarly to the rest of Canada, more than 80% of New Brunswick’s economy is driven through consumer spending.

“This austerity budget lacks vision and drive. It contains a small vision for NB and aims to make us content with our status as last place in Canada for median wages, economic growth, population growth, and so on,” added Légère.

CUPE NB also questions the 19 million dollars allocated to the 49 MLAs for “discretionary spending” in their ridings. “These resources should go to maintain and improve our services who are already cut to the bone,” said Légère.

Public services in NB are in a crisis. We only have to look at the challenges our nursoing homes are facing. There is no room to cut jobs and not to fill vacant positions and allow positions to go vacant through attrition is simply not fair to New Brunswickers.

Despite the bad news, CUPE members’ actions have had direct results on the budget. “Minister Steeves produced a contradictory document, where on one hand, he recognizes workers’ need for better wages, but on the other hand, he is blaming the public sector of “suffocating our economy”, which is an irresponsible and patently false accusation.  Their old and tired accusations are not sticking anymore. They don’t know how to deal with the rising tide of mobilization from all segments of the population. Our voice will be heard,” concluded Légère.

 

NURSING HOMES: Bargaining Update

FREDERICTON – Bargaining talks in the nursing home sector have been put on hold, as the neutral third party – the bargaining mediator – has recommended negotiations be put on pause.

The workers’ negotiators are frustrated how both employer and government – who are now together at the table – have consistently rejected any meaningful wage increases for nursing home workers.

The employer has proposed workers take a three-year contract with a median wage increase of 10.5 cents per hour, every 6 months. The employer insisted on presenting again this proposal, disregarding the fact it had already been massively rejected by nursing home employees.

Hourly rate change for the lowest paid classifications (such as Laundry Attendant, Environment Attendant, Dietary Attendant) would be 9 cents, every 6 months. For the highest paid classifications (such as LPNs and Lead Cooks), this represents 12-cent increases per hour, every 6 months.

“I am appalled to hear the employer say nursing home workers don’t even deserve a fair and equitable wage increase,” said Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions (NBCNHU).

“Cost of living inflated by 2.1% in 2018, and 2,3% the year before that. If workers accept the employer’s proposal, there would be a real wage loss above 2.4%.” As long as I am president, I will never, ever, tell the workers I represent they deserve a wage cut,” said Teare.

The NBCNHU is frustrated by repeated stalling tactics used by the employer. CUPE suspects this is deliberate, as government lawyers are heading to court on Friday in an attempt to obtain a long-term stay order. This could have the effect of significantly prolonging the existing 10-day court order preventing nursing home worker’s right to strike.

NB Nursing Home Workers Vote Overwhelmingly For a Strike

Fredericton – As we celebrate International Women’s Day, the results from yesterday’s nursing home strike vote have come in. An overwhelming majority of workers – more than 94% of the 3520 members who were eligible to vote – voted in favor of the strike. Each section, the 46 nursing homes, voted in favor of the strike.

“This is a really strong message from workers to the government and the Employer. Members have not gone on strike since 2001. We hope the government and the Employer, the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, can present a fair offer before the strike begins,” said Sharon Teare, President of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions (NBCNHU).

“Government and the Employer must hear residents, their families and the workers. Bring a fair deal to the table so we can solve the ongoing understaffing and workload problems in nursing homes,” added Teare.

Nursing home workers have been without a contract for over 28 months.

“After two years, we have exhausted all other avenues other than strike action. Members held demonstrations, leafleted their communities, lobbied MLAs, did radio and TV ads, and so on. The government and the Employer are leaving us with no choice but to strike,” said Teare.

“Thankfully, residents and their families understand and support us.  We are doing this in order to improve the situation for all.”

Written notice, at least 24 hours in advance, must be given by the Union or an Employer before a lawful strike or lock-out can take place.

The NBCNHU represents 4100 members working in 46 government funded nursing homes throughout New Brunswick. They represent resident attendants, Licensed Practical Nurses, maintenance, housekeeping, activity, rehabilitation, dietary, laundry and clerical staff.

 

NB Budget: Higgs-Austin Govt Snub Public Consultations

Today, the New Brunswick government signalled that public consultation will not be needed to prepare this year’s provincial budget.

“Contrary to what they have said on the campaign trail, it appears “meaningful consultation with citizens” is not the priority of the Higgs-Austin government,” said Daniel Légère, CUPE NB President.

While the business community has been shown the red carpet by Fredericton, the public’s only way to provide input on the coming budget will only be through online submissions.

“This is not about money, it’s about confiscating citizen’s usual spaces for input and dissent. Not a single MLA from the People’s Alliance or the Conservatives is opposing this sham.

When questioned on the lack of basic access, especially for rural citizens, seniors and those who cannot or prefer not to use the online avenue, Higgs’s staff responded to CUPE, “They can write a letter”.

“If Government truly wants to know how to improve services in NB, they should talk to the front-line workers who actually do the work and the citizens who depend on those public services,” concluded Légère.

To date, the NB government has scheduled 7 closed-door meetings with stakeholders and ministers.
CUPE NB denounces how the public and multiple community groups are not permitted to attend these meetings.

Finance Minister Ernie Steeves is expected to present the budget on March 19th.

 

Interest Rates Freeze: Workers’ Wages Stagnant

The Bank of Canada paused increases to their benchmark interest rate this week, partly because consumption spending and housing investment have been weaker than they expected. But it’s not surprising that households are spending more cautiously in the face of rising interest rates and persistently weak wage growth. The puzzle is why wages are so weak in the first place.

Given the strength of other economic indicators, wages should be rising faster. The national unemployment rate is at a 40-year low. The unemployment rate for 2018 in New Brunswick was 8.0% – the second-lowest rate recorded since 1976 (it fell to 7.5% in 2007, right before the last recession).  As the Bank’s action shows, stagnant real wages have broader economic effects – when households have more money in their pockets they spend it in their local communities.

Two factors behind stubbornly weak wage growth are the growth of precarious work, and austerity budgeting from provincial governments. This is why CUPE NB is building workers’ bargaining power through our “Breaking the Mandate” campaign, aiming to end a decade of provincially mandated wage constraints.

To see how much (or little) your wages have grown, check out CUPE’s Real Wage calculator at cupe.ca/real-wage-calculator

For more information on wage stagnation in Canada, you may also consult the following articles:

Care Sector Wages Withheld by Special Care Home Owner

Fredericton – Recently, CUPE NB held a press conference demanding government to intervene so workers of Wisdom Manor, a specialized nursing home in Campbellton, receive 100% of the unpaid wages they were promised.

Wisdom Manor, Cambellton NB

Last April, Social Development had promised to subsidize a pay increase for community care service workers, who are in a critically underpaid field. Hourly wage increases ranged from $0.25 for employees in adult group homes to $1.00 for those working in special care homes, retroactive to April 1, 2018. The new funding rate for special care homes included an additional 15% to cover mandatory employer charges.

“It’s unacceptable that Wisdom Manor’s owner, Mr. Marc Carrière, still refuses to pass along these publicly funded wage subsidies to his 25 front-line employees,” decries Daniel Légère, CUPE NB President.

“Lisa Harris, the previous Social Development minister, had herself said these wages, funded and mandated by government, could not be withheld. Yet, this employer is withholding wages, in all impunity, for workers who are already at a poverty wage of $12 per hour.

CUPE NB calls on Social Development Minister Dorothy Sheppard and the new government to intervene and ensure wages are delivered for the 25 workers before Christmas.

« With employers like Mr. Carrière, it’s easy to understand why we need a public system for community care sector. It’s been over 8 months now. This employer should face real consequences in keeping what is not rightfully his,” said Laurie Anderson, President of the NB Community Service Unions.

The workers at Wisdom Manor are represented by CUPE local 5375. They are currently struggling to obtain a first collective agreement, as the employer remains to this day obstinate in avoiding talks.

 

 

Solidarity Picket for Postal Workers in Fredericton

Community activists, union members and CUPE New Brunswick members staged a solidarity picket at a Canada Post facility in Fredericton on Thursday morning. The  picket started in the early-morning hours of Thursday – after 5 am- and ended at about 9 a.m. Postal employees reporting to work at the Waggoner’s Lane facility were blocked from entry during that time.

As the Canadian Union of Postal Workers were legislated back to work by the Trudeau government, community members and CUPE members believe this flies in the face of free collective bargaining.

The Supreme Court of Canada has made itself clear in 2015, when they said the right to strike is a fundamental right and protected by the Constitution.(see Saskatchewan Federation of Labour v. Saskatchewan, 2015 SCC 4, [2015] 1 S.C.R. 245)

 

December 6 : National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

We mark the anniversary of the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, where 14 young women, mostly engineering students, were singled out and murdered because they were women.  One of the victims, Maryse Laganière, was a CUPE member who worked at the school. We also remember the missing and murdered indigenous women, the transgender people and all the others in our communities and around the world who have lost their lives to gender-based violence or who continue to experience it.

Nearly thirty years after that December day, we pause to think about the work that still lies ahead. “First mourn, then work for change” – that is the call to action inscribed on the December 6th monument in Riverview.

Everyone has a responsibility to examine their own behavior and speak out against aggression. We must also tackle the deep-rooted systemic inequalities that increase women’s vulnerability to violence. Survivors need stable employment, a living wage and income supports, access to quality child care and mental health services and so much more.

One step in the right direction in 2018 is the introduction of a new leave of absence in our provincial employment standards law for survivors of domestic, sexual or intimate partner violence.  As of September 1st of this year, New Brunswick workers are entitled to five days of paid leave if they, or their child have experienced this type of violence. The labour movement and community groups had pushed for this new protection that recognizes this violence as a workplace issue.

 

What can you and your local do to make a difference?

Participate in one of the events organized to mark this day in New Brunswick:

BATHURST: Commemorative Walk and Action on the importance of healthy relationships, Thursday, December 6, at 12:15 p.m.  The walk will start at the Bathurst Youth Center, will proceed to the Hatheway Ford dealership and return to the Bathurst Youth Center. People are encouraged to stay after the walk for refreshments, to talk to interveners and to get information on healthy relationships and similar topics.  For more information, phone (506) 545-8952 or email womenoutreach@gmail.com  Organized by Outreach to Women and Families Victim of Violence, Maison de  Passage House Inc., Bathurst Youth Centre & Nepisiguit Family Services.

FREDERICTON –  Memorial ceremony, Thursday, December 6, noon to 2:00 p.m., University of New Brunswick – Fredericton campus Head Hall Auditorium, 15 Dineen Drive. Organized by UNB Diversity Within Engineering.

RIVERVIEW – Commemorative event, Thursday, December 6, 6:30 p.m., Fr. Dan Bohan Centre, 5 Fatima Drive (next to Riverview Town Hall), followed by a candlelight vigil and laying of the roses at the monument at Caseley Park. A special collection of women’s personal care products will be collected at the door. Organized by the December 6th Committee of the Moncton and District Labour Council.  For more information phone (506) 852-9609.

SAINT ANDREWS – Commemorative coffeehouse, Thursday, December 6, 6:30 p.m start, NB Community College, 99 Augustus St., hosted by the Charlotte County Abuse Prevention Network and the NBCC. For further information, phone Charlotte County Community Outreach at (506) 469-5544.

SAINT JOHN –  Memorial, Thursday, December 6, 6:00 p.m. start, Mary Oland Theatre in NB Museum,  Market Square.  Speakers will address issues facing indigenous women and Muslim women, transgender people and labour perspectives. Representatives from FEM (Feminist Empowerment Movement), SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) and Coverdale (Centre for women in conflict with the law) will also be present. The memorial will end with a short candle-lit walk to Loyalist Plaza. For more information, contact Chris Doran at (506) 648-5729 (doran@unb.ca).

SHIPPAGAN:  Walk against violence, Thursday, December 6, departure at 12:45 p.m. from the Shippagan campus of the Université de Moncton. Before the Walk:  Kiosks, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Christmas lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The Silent Witnesses from the Acadian Peninsula will be present. No registration required, free admission, everyone is welcome. For more information, contact Émilie Haché, phone (506) 395-7632 or email tablecontrelaviolence@gmail.com  Organized by the Table de concertation pour contrer la violence familiale et conjugale dans la Péninsule acadienne and the Comité permanent de la situation féminine de l’UMCS.

 

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