Austerity model has run its course in this province

FREDERICTON: The largest union in New Brunswick, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, is consulting with members across the province on a new course of action to halt the Government’s austerity bulldozer.

“We are ready to pull out all the stops to save the social fabric of New Brunswick”, said Odette Robichaud, CUPE NB Vice-President.

At the press conference today with union leaders representing the hospitals, schools, transportation workers and other government employees, CUPE NB asked the government to tell citizens how they came up with the document ‘Choices to Move New Brunswick Forward’.

“We have been to every public forum and round table in the province and this is not what we heard. Nobody came to the microphone to say you should close my hospital because I don’t mind travelling an extra hour to receive health care or increase the size of the classroom so the teacher will have less time to spend with my child, and on top of that, lay off education assistants. We didn’t hear any New Brunswickers come forward and say you should close the school in my community and privatize road maintenance and custodial services in the school, so my neighbours or family members would lose their jobs.”

Read More

CUPE NB STATEMENT ON DECEMBER 6th, 2015

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

On December 6, 1989, 14 women were singled out because they were women and murdered by a man with a hunting rifle at the École polytechnique in Montreal. Most of the victims were young engineering students. In 1991, the Parliament of Canada established December 6 as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women.

As we once again mark this sad anniversary, we remember the many women here in New Brunswick and throughout Canada who have been killed or harmed, often by their intimate partners but also by strangers, acquaintances or neighbours. We also think of all the women and girls who still live daily with the threat of physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse.

Read More

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, designated December 1st every year since 1988, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection, and mourning those who have died of the disease.

Every 3 hours a person is infected with HIV in Canada. One in three new infections are young people aged 15 to 24 and 23% of new infections are women.  Three-quarters of the 2 million people worldwide who became newly infected with HIV live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

HIV and AIDS are not only health issues; they are also human rights and social justice concerns, economic challenges, and labour issues. Our union is proud to stand in solidarity with those infected and affected by the disease, and with organizations and workers who support people living with HIV and AIDS. CUPE stands for strong, healthy communities and workplaces for everyone.

CUPE National has produced a new poster, a policy booklet, a bargaining checklist and a health and safety fact sheet to help locals build awareness, promote discussion, and encourage action on the critical issues surrounding HIV and AIDS.

Government’s Wish List is Bad for New Brunswickers

FREDERICTON: The Strategic Program Review “wish list” released by the New Brunswick liberal government this morning is nothing more than a fear mongering strategy.

“The document release by Minister Victor Boudreau mainly outlines choices that will result in less services for New Brunswickers and the loss of many public services jobs. This is what the government calls moving forward,” said Odette Robichaud, CUPE NB Vice president.Read More

December 6 events in New Brunswick

December 6th is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. Everyone is invited to participate in the events organized to mark this day across New Brunswick in 2015:

SHIPPAGAN: Commemorative Walk – Monday, December 7. Walk starts at 12:45 p.m. from the main entrance of the Shippagan campus of the Université de Moncton. For more information, contact Emilie Haché of the Table de concertation pour contrer la violence conjugale et familiale dans la Péninsule acadienne, telephone (506) 395-7632; email tablecontrelaviolence@gmail.com

BATHURST: Commemorative Walk To End Violence – Friday, December 4th, noon. The walk will start at Holy Family Church, followed by a ceremony at the École secondaire Népisiguit. For more information, contact Emilie Vienneau, telephone (506) 545-8952.

MIRAMICHI: Commemorative Vigil – Sunday, December 6th, 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Queen Elizabeth Park, Newcastle. For more information, contact Deanna King, Domestic Violence Outreach Services, telephone (506) 778-6496.

FREDERICTON: Commemorative event,   Friday, December 4th, 7:45 a.m., N.B. Legislative Assembly, 706 Queen St. Please RSVP to Silke.Brabander@gnb.ca or (506) 444-3024.

FREDERICTON: Event in remembrance of the Montreal Massacre and looking ahead at the future of women in engineering and technology, Friday, December 4th, 12:30 p.m., the University of New Brunswick – Fredericton campus, Dineen Auditorium in Head Hall.

RIVERVIEW: Sunday, December 6th, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Public gathering at Father Dan Bohan Centre, 5 Fatima Drive, next to Riverview Town Hall, followed by a candlelight vigil and laying of roses at the monument at Caseley Park. Organized by the December 6th Committee of Moncton and District Labour Council. For more information, telephone (506) 852-3537.

ANDREWS: “An Hour of Remembrance and Hope” – Sunday, December 6th, 6:30 p.m.   Wesley United Church, 77 William St., St. Andrews. Organized by the Charlotte County Abuse Prevention Network. For further information, telephone Charlotte County Community Outreach at (506) 469-5544.

New Brunswick should follow the federal Liberal’s lead and move away from P3 infrastructures

FREDERICTON – The New Brunswick Liberal Government should reassess its endorsement of public-private partnership (P3) infrastructure constructions now that its federal counterpart has signaled a move away from a P3 funding model for large infrastructure projects.

“It seems the federal government will no longer require provinces and cities to consider P3 arrangement for projects over $100 million. This is a positive move and we urge the New Brunswick government to follow the same path”, says Daniel Légère, president of the New Brunswick Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.Read More

Define Benefit Pension plans vs Target Plan

CUPE NB and CUPE National remain committed to Define Benefit Pension plans. Since the Legislated  conversion of the PSSA DB plan ,CUPE commissioned PBI to review the assumptions and that report is attached . Since the Legislation to a  we have Lobbied and tried to hold the Gallant Governments to its commitment to reviewing the need to have converted the PSSA plan from a DB plan to a target pension plan.

CUPE is also exploring several options including a legal challenge.

More layoff and service reduction in health care

FREDERICTON: The Horizon Health Network will reduce or completely close the cafeteria services as of next month in all its hospitals.

The Union representing the cafeteria workers, CUPE Local 1252, was notified this morning of the coming reduction of services.

“We were informed that 13 full-time equivalent positions are impacted by the decision which will affect 25 workers”, said CUPE Local 1252 president Norma Robinson.Read More

Mark Hancock elected national president of CUPE

Vancouver – Mark Hancock has been elected the national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Over 2,100 delegates, representing CUPE locals from across the country, elected Hancock to lead Canada’s largest union. The vote took place at CUPE’s 27th biennial national convention taking place this week in Vancouver.

“I will do my best each and every day for all our members across this great country. I am so honoured to be your national president,” said Hancock to convention delegates, after being elected. Hancock, who has been president of CUPE’s British Columbia division since 2013, won on the first ballot, defeating Fred Hahn, currently president of CUPE Ontario.Read More