CUPE 1190: Unnecessary Cuts Lead to Dangerous Roads

Fredericton – CUPE Local 1190, representing New Brunswick highway workers, held a news conference today to outline its concerns about reductions by the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure to the Winter Maintenance Program.

Andrew Hardy, CUPE 1190 President, shows the hotline ad

At the conference, CUPE Local 1190 officially relaunched their “Bad Road Hot Line” for tracking road conditions following the reductions to the Winter Maintenance Program.

“We are asking the government to reverse past cuts: reducing the Winter Maintenance Program in a province like New Brunswick is really not an option,” said Andy Hardy, president of CUPE Local 1190.

Hardy listed several reductions that have resulted from pasts cuts in the Winter Maintenance program:

  • 26 plows and graders will not be available to plow the roads; this on top of the 29 pieces of heavy equipment that were parked in 2013, which means DTI is now working with 55 fewer pieces of equipment;
  • 70 less operators in the Winter Maintenance Program since 2013-2014;
  • No spare operators will be available in some divisions around the province;
  • Reduced sand and salt budgets.
  • $6.2 million have been given to the Quebec consulting firm PVA, money that’s leaving the province and could be used on New Brunswick roads.

“CUPE Local 1190 members take a great deal of pride in keeping our roads safe and clear, but with each round of budget cuts, this is becoming increasingly difficult,” says Hardy.

This year, a window of opportunity will open to undo privatized plowing and P3 highways: the Moncton-Fredericton highway P3 contract with MRDC expires on January 1st, 2017, and will be up for renegotiation.

From left to right: Bill Cameron, CUPE 4848; Brian Watson, CUPE 1253, Andrew Hardy, President CUPE 1190; & David Perkins, CUPE National Representative.

“Private sector plowing costs more and is less efficient than public sector highway work. This government has a chance to make a deal for our citizens’ safety. It’s time to bringing the work back in-house” concluded Hardy.

United we are strong! Binding arbitration changes scrapped

Fredericton – April 08 2016 – After having mounted pressure against changes to binding arbitration, CUPE NB is relieved that the provincial government has scrapped its planned changes to labour laws in Bill 24.

“The law would have seriously gamed the bargaining process in favor of employers,” said Daniel Légère, President of CUPE NB. “At the 11th hour, the government has realized it had nothing to gain by turning the arbitration mechanisms in a lose-lose system” said Légère.

“I am proud to say that on this issue, both the government and the opposition listened to the concerns of CUPE and other members of the NB Federation of Labour” said Légère.

“Now that this is behind us, I hope government will foster a constructive relationship with unions to make our work laws more progressive. The promise of re-instating the labour-management decision maker’s committee is a small step in the right direction” explained Légère.

Read the fine print: NB Liberals pushing for a “wage suppression bill” this Spring

http://www.citizen.org/congress/images/fineprint.jpgMarch 22, 2016 – Fredericton – Out of the blue and without any public or worker input, the New Brunswick government is currently going to fast-track wage suppression legislation. The Federation of Labour recently learned that this bill could be passed during the formal adoption of the provincial budget.

“This did not figure anywhere in the Choices to Move New Brunswick Forward document. Now, it turns out, they are out for the workers’ wages in the public and private sectors,” said Patrick Colford, New Brunswick Federation of Labour President.

Both public and private sectors labour laws are to be modified to favour employers during negotiations. This would ultimately result in downward pressure on the wages of all workers in the province. Tim Hudak, former Leader of the Ontario Conservatives, had proposed a similar law in 2011.

“We have tried over and over to meet with Labour Minister Francine Landry, but she has continually postponed,” said Colford. “As time goes by, it seems like Premier Gallant wants to have labour laws modified through fine print in budget legislation, just like Harper had done with his omnibus bills,” he added.

“Firefighters, pulp and paper workers, university employees, health and education sector workers – everyone is coming together to oppose these changes,” concluded Colford.

The leadership of several public and private sector unions, representing workers in every sector of the economy, met last week. Collectively, they are urging the New Brunswick Government to halt these labour law changes.

International Women’s Day: let’s make pay equity a reality

Currently, no pay equity law protects NB’s private sector employees. The only pay equity legislation in New Brunswick, which applies to public sector employees, remains to be truly put into action.

The law is supposed to ensure equal pay for work of equal value, when compared to predominantly male jobs. “This law was passed under the Graham government in 2009. We are still waiting for the government to apply the legislation,” said CUPE Local 2745 President, Theresa McAllister.

“Job evaluations were to be completed in April 2012, but to this day, we are still waiting for any wage adjustment,” she added.

“Every worker, union or non-union, deserve pay equity. It is a question of human rights” said Odette Robichaud, Acting President of CUPE NB. “Educational assistants, home care workers, court stenographers, group home workers, and many more will directly benefit when the government will act to follow its own laws,” said Robichaud.

“Female-dominated jobs should be respected and recognized for their true value. Pay equity is the first real step to achieve this,” concluded McAllister.

CUPE local 2745 represents about 4000 people in female-dominated jobs: Educational Assistants, Student Attendants, School Administrative Assistants, School Library Workers, District Administrative Support, School Intervention Workers and Rehabilitation Assistants.

Privatization and Construction Contracts: Auditor General should investigate

March 03, 2016 – Fredericton – CUPE Local 1190, supported by CUPE NB, held a press conference on the issue of privatization in the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. Local 1190 president, Andrew Hardy, said the Union would go ahead with a request to the Office of the Auditor General to investigate the awarding of public contracts in the field of transport and construction in New Brunswick.

Many construction companies, such as asphalt and paving companies, donated generously to political parties before and during the last provincial election. Now, many of these businesses are reaping contracts from the newly privatized operations.

“Transportation Minister Roger Melanson and his Deputy Minister told us that privatization would be more expensive than the work done by the public sector,” says Hardy. “Despite that, Department employees, middle management and the Minister all know that it will cost more, the Liberals are still going forward. Who is benefiting from this, and why? Certainly not the taxpayer. Are we in a situation similar to what led to the Atcon scandal?” questioned Hardy.

“Unlike the federal law, New Brunswick’s political financing law allows corporations to make donations to political parties, up to $ 6,000. By privatizing more and more government work, is awarding public contracts truly a neutral process ?” asks Hardy. “We need a commission of inquiry in N.B.” he added.

“Privatization is less transparent and less accountable than public sector work. With outsourcing, the money goes to companies based outside the province: they’re the ones profiting from these contracts,” said David Perkins, CUPE National Representative.

In addition to efforts with the Office of the Auditor General, Local 1190 CUPE will host a provincial day of action on March 12.

Read the CBC article
Read the Global News article

NB Budget 2016: privatization talks are not fiscally sensible

Despite talk of major reductions in expenditures and cutbacks in programs, the Government of New Brunswick has largely backed off from spending cuts. In fact, projected spending for 2016-2017 is up by almost $250 million (+3.1%). Even with revenues expected to rise by approximately $423 million (+5.1%), Government is projecting a deficit of $347 million for 2016-2017.

On the surface, New Brunswick’s fiscal situation appears to be troubling. However, an in-depth look at the numbers reveals the deficit will, in fact, be under control by the next fiscal year. With savings reached in the budget of almost $130 million, on top of the announced $300 million in new revenues from the HST increase, the Government of New Brunswick could reach budget equilibrium or even generate a small surplus next year. Taking into account the $100 million contingency fund in the budget, a budget surplus is feasible by the end of next year, making all the talk of privatization of public services a moot point.

In short, the projected deficit for 2016-2017 comes from the Liberals’ promised infrastructure spending.

Public services and the workers who provide them are not the driving force behind New Brunswick’s budget deficits. The problem lies in the election promises made by the Liberal government, not a structural deficit stemming from public services or the women and men who provide them. Brian Gallant’s government needs to stop privatizing and cutting public services. They should reevaluate their own electoral promises and priorities.

Read the full document written by Luc LeBlanc, CUPE Research Representative: NB Budget 2016 Highlights

Migrant workers’ rights in the Maritimes

February 16, 2016, Fredericton – A path to permanent residency, open work permits and better community support services for all migrant workers are serious issues in New Brunswick. If you attended this weekend’s Equal in Rights: Migrant Workers Rights Forum in Fredericton, you now know how difficult work and life can be for temporary workers employed in Atlantic Canada.  IMG_20160213_161126_hdr_editThe forum was the first of its kind in New Brunswick and brought together more than 75 migrant workers, labour union activists and civil society members. “The forum was an effort to build relationships of solidarity with temporary workers who are coming to Canada from all over the world in search of a better life for their families,” said Debbie Downey, CUPE National Global Justice Committee member and forum organizer.

Participants were able to hear firsthand accounts of vulnerability, exploitation and struggle from several migrant workers who attended from New Brunswick, PEI and Montreal. Several Filipino fish-plant workers present at the forum explained the difficulties they faced because of the infamous ‘4 and 4’ rule. Temporary workers can only be employed for four years in Canada. They must then leave the country and cannot come back to work for another four years. Many of them could face deportation[1].

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program has come under fire for undermining the rights of migrant workers in Canada. “They are tied to specific employers. They have difficulty protecting themselves from workplace abuse and have little access to community support services” said Luc LeBlanc, CUPE Research Representative.  “Those who qualify to apply for permanent residency undergo a lengthy process that separates them from their families for extended periods” added LeBlanc.

According to the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the number of temporary migrant workers is now more than double the number of newcomers coming to Canada with permanent resident status.

Forum participants have committed to organizing and working together to support efforts to help the province’s migrant workers struggle for dignity and genuine rights recognition.

The forum was hosted in partnership with CUPE, MIGRANTE Canada, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and KAIROS.


[1] As of April 1, 2015, any migrant worker in a low-waged occupation who has had work permits for a total of 4 years will not be able to renew their work permit and will have to wait another 4 years before being able to return to work in Canada. This ‘4 and 4’ rule applies to workers in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program (including workers in agriculture).

Fredericton transit workers accept final offer from city

February 13, 2016, Fredericton – After being in strike position since December, CUPE Local 1783 members have accepted the final offer from the employer this Saturday.

” After much debate over this offer, the union concluded an agreement to avoid negative impacts on those who depend on this service the most, the riders,” said CUPE National Representative Ralph McBride.

Thought this offer did not correct all the concerns for the OPII’s such as Health and Dental Benefits, the members took it upon themselves to do what they felt was in the right and remain on the job. “They will take on the fight to the next round of bargaining,” said McBride.

“Local 1783 has always taken the high road to try to bargain a better deal for their members. However, at this point, they felt that it was time to move forward and relief the stress of the ridership,” concluded McBride.

The Local thanks the ridership for their understanding over the last few months and will continue to do the best they can to service them.

CUPE Local 1783 represents 43 Fredericton transit workers that operate 28 buses on nine different routes

Binding Arbitration Changes Could Give Unfair Advantage to Employers

February 8, 2016, Fredericton – CUPE NB and the NB Council of Municipal Employees join their voices in opposition to Finance Minister Melanson’s promise to change provincial binding arbitration law. The government could get on a slippery slope by tipping the balance in favour of employers.

“Essential services employees cannot go on strike like other unionized employees. Binding arbitration is often the only remedy these union members have when there is a negotiation deadlock.” explained CUPE NB Acting President, Odette Robichaud.

“Government would be stripping away the union leverage at the table to ensure employers negotiate fairly” said Marcos Salib, CUPE NB Council of Municipal Employees’ Coordinator.

“Even if implemented, the law does not tackle the fundamental problems: proper funding and ability to collect revenue. Arbitrators have often ruled that the ability to pay is not a valid argument used by employers as they have the ability to increase revenues by various avenues. Instead, Government should assist the Municipalities by eliminating the equalization grants that have resulted in lost revenues to major municipalities” noted Salib.

“For CUPE, this is a question of workers’ rights. We will have to consider our legal options” warned Robichaud.