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PLEASE JOIN US FOR THESE EVENTS!
at the Delta Beauséjour Hotel, Moncton

• ALL PRESIDENTS MEETING (NB only)
• LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
• WEEKLONG SCHOOL

All Presidents’ Meeting for NB Locals

CUPE NB invites all Presidents of NB Locals to a meeting to discuss concerns and issues affecting all locals in the province. There is no cost for this meeting, but we are asking that you register if you are attending.

January 26^th – 11am to 1pm @ the Delta Beauséjour Hotel in Moncton

Registration Link

Leadership Re-Boot Conference for NB & PEI

• CUPE NB invites all members, locals, and executives of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick to a conference to discuss how we lead in 2023 and move into the future!

We encourage all executives to attend and to consider bringing young workers to this event for long-term succession planning for the labor movement and locals.

*There is limited registration for this event and a registration fee of $100

* Registration Deadline is January 20th, 2023

January 26th 2PM to 5:30 PM @ Delta Beausejour in Moncton

January 27TH 9AM to 4PM @ Delta Beausejour in Moncton

Registration Link

CUPE Maritimes Weeklong School – Getting back to Basics for NB & PEI

• CUPE Maritimes is excited to announce a weeklong school for all members in NB and PEI in person! We are happy to provide a new process where you get to select the workshops that you want to attend, so please make sure to follow the instructions!

Twice daily breaks will be provided.

*Note – the Financial Officer Workshop will be the only course that will last 5 days.

This weeklong is meant to be flexible to accommodate all members, so you can join us for the 5 days, or sign up for individual sessions that are listed below.

*There is limited registration for this event and a registration fee of 100$ per session or 300$ for the week.

* Registration Deadline is January 20^th, 2023.

 Registration Link

Special Info:

We have a special rate negotiated with the Delta Beausejour for $169 a night, this rate expires on: Saturday, December 24, 2022!

Click here to reserve online: Book your group rate for CUPE Conference

COVID POLICY:

We want to ensure that our event is as safe as possible, and we will be following CUPE’s COVID protocols.

Here are the key protocols for all of the above events:

• Masks are mandatory during the events, even when sitting down in the meeting room.
• If you are not vaccinated, you are required to test daily and ensure that you test negative before joining the meeting.
• Check your symptoms daily if you have any COVID symptoms do not attend the meeting.

WEEKLONG SCHOOL WORKSHOPS

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The anti-worker bill known as “Bill 23” was rammed through Friday, December 16, 2022. Let’s mobilize to urge MLAs to repeal this bad law, or assume the consequences that will follow in not doing so.

Without consultation from any unions, PC MLA and Labour Minister Trevor Holder significantly amended the NB Public Labour Relations Act (PSLRA) through Bill 23. The PSLRA concerns the rules on all unionized worker-employer relations in the provincial public sector. It covers rules around lockouts, strikes, designations, picketing, arbitration, negotiations and much more. Instead of improving labour relations, Bill 23 tilts the balance in the government’s favour.

• Before locking out its own workers, the government must only give a 24-hour notice to the affected employees, but workers’ unions must give a 72-hour notice before commencing strike action.
• The Act will allow changes to designation levels (how many workers can and cannot go on strike) to be made later in the bargaining process, even after a deadlock in bargaining has been declared.
• The Act will also allow the replacement of designated workers who are absent and allow the employer to fill vacant and unfilled positions with anyone, including private for-profit contractors.
• The Act will allow the government to significantly change the work schedules of essential workers during a strike or lockout
• the Act will force arbitrators to consider restrictive criteria during the binding arbitration process to reduce wage adjustments, such as comparison with the private sector, other provinces and the province’s “ability to pay”.

These changes create instability and legalize scabbing. This will generate unnecessary friction during conflicts.

Instead of focusing on fully staffing our public services in times of labour peace, Holder and PC MLAs are only caring about staffing if and when it gives more strength to their lockouts. This bill must be overturned.

Read the poll results here: https://angusreid.org/premiers-performance-dec-2022/

Ignoring the basic needs of residents while sitting on huge budget surpluses is shameful. It is not a surprise that Angus Reid, a Canadian polling firm, revealed that less than 28% of New Brunswickers are satisfied with Blaine Higgs and his team.

Enough with the inaction on staff shortages. Enough with the delays and closures of emergency rooms. Enough of the disrespect for workers. Enough with the pro-scab laws. Enough with pushing people into poverty. New Brunswickers are ready to show this Premier the door.

Read our message to members to celebrate this historical labour event in New Brunswick

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This Saturday, the collective agreement covering close to 4,400 unionized nursing home workers in New Brunswick will expire. The agreement between the NB Council of Nursing Home Unions (NBCNHU) and their employer, the NB Nursing Home Association, is effective from October 16, 2016 to October 15, 2022.

A resident and a CUPE nursing home worker – Woodstock NB, 2022

“We look forward to see the employers, represented by the NB Nursing Home Association and the Government of New Brunswick which funds non-profit nursing homes, to both be ready to be constructive partners in the coming negotiations,” said Sharon Teare, president of the NBCNHU.

Negotiations have not yet begun. Sharon Teare is hoping that the past few years and the healthcare crisis have opened the eyes of the government to the urgent need to improve staffing, working conditions, and senior care.

During the last quarterly fiscal update, GNB reported a year-end surplus of $777.3 million for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2022. “There is no rational reason to see government deny or delay fair bargaining with workers,” said Teare.

Over the previous two years, nursing home staff did their duties in the most at-risk workplaces, yet none received any bonuses, “COVID-pay” or recruitment aid of any sort from the Provincial government.

“Even before we factor in inflation, there is much catch-up to do in terms of wages, working conditions, and pensions. I believe we can hammer out a new contract over the next month or weeks even. I hope the government shares our commitment to improve senior care,” concluded Teare.

Fredericton, NB – CUPE Local 1252, representing over 9000 healthcare workers in New Brunswick, was successful in its grievance to have National Truth and Reconciliation Day (NTRD) recognized. In the decision issued on August 10, 2022, arbitrator Robert Breen upheld CUPE 1252’s grievance, ordering the provincial government to recognize the holiday for workers.

“Thanks to the diligent activism of indigenous communities, public pressure, and organized labour, Premier Higgs had no choice but to recognize September 30^th – The Truth and Reconciliation Day, as an official provincial holiday,” said Trent Snikkers, the CUPE Servicing representative who argued the grievance for CUPE 1252.

Back in 2021, Premier Higgs had flatly refused to recognize September 30^th as an official Holiday. A month later, CUPE members had to go on strike for fair wages. “The strike taught us all that the only time Higgs listens to workers, indigenous peoples, or rural communities is when they push back. That’s why multiple CUPE locals filed grievances in 2022 so the NTRD be recognized. I commend the workers who pushed the government to go beyond lip service to Truth and Reconciliation,” said Steve Drost, President of CUPE NB.

CUPE stands in solidarity with the Miꞌkmaq, Wolastoqey, and Peskotomuhkati nations, whose traditional lands are in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Recognizing September 30^th is important to heal the wounds of the past. We cannot forget the children who attended “Indian Day Schools”, the Sussex Vale School, and the Shubenacadie Residential School. The colonial goal of these institutions was plainly stated as “to kill the Indian in the heart of the child”. This was one of the multiple methods put in place by governments to destroy Indigenous culture, identity, and collective power.

In his written decision, Arbitrator Breen ordered the province to properly compensate all affected employees for September 30, 2021.

“As trade unionists, we strive to make reconciliation a tangible reality in our lives, in our workplaces, and through our collective agreements,” said Trent Snikkers.

BrunswickNews Article – Published on September 4, 2022

On September 30^th, also known as Truth and Reconciliation Day (TRD), we invite all union members to take time to remember the victims and survivors of residential schools. This day was proclaimed a statutory holiday by the Federal Government in 2021. At last, thanks to indigenous activism, public pressure, grievances made by CUPE locals and more, the New Brunswick government just proclaimed it a statutory holiday.

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Last this week, it was revealed that New Brunswick’s government employee “shared-risk” pension plan failed to pay retired employees a full cost-of-living increase on retirement benefits. Vestcor – the corporation managing over $21 billion in public employee pension and other funds – cannot guarantee higher future payouts to compensate for the current shortfall.

Vestcor Inc. head office in Fredericton, NB

“Retirees are being short-changed. On behalf of our retirees and current members, we are demanding that Finance Minister Ernie Steeves and Premier Blaine Higgs force Vestcor to open their books to the Auditor General,” said Steve Drost, President of CUPE NB.

In early 2021, Auditor General Kim Adair-MacPherson released a scathing report demonstrating a serious lack of transparency from Vestcor, which constrained her ability to do her job. As a watchdog for citizens, the Auditor General (AG) has the mandate to examine public accounts, including public sector pensions. “To this day, Vestcor still refuses to let the AG have access to the information needed so she can report instances of misuse of funds or mismanagement. This is more than suspicious,” said Drost.

Over the last 5 years, Vestcor has been criticized for giving lavish performance bonuses to its top managers, despite being among the lowest-performing investment management company in Canada. “Their recent failure to follow inflation is another clear-cut case that proves privatization of public services does not serve the citizens,” said Drost.

After a career in public service, CUPE members will have a very modest pension upon retirement. “With a defined-benefit plan, like most had before Higgs set up Vestcor after he dismantled the crown corporation that managed public service pensions, workers would have seen their pensions keep up with inflation. Workers’ wages and pensions – which are deferred wages – should at the very least keep up with inflation,” concluded Drost.

Labour Day is a time to reflect on the many contributions of working people. It’s a time to celebrate the struggles of the past and prepare for those ahead.  

We wish to give thanks and recognize the exceptional work done by front-line workers. In the last 12 months, you, CUPE members, stood on the picket lines across the province to protect the public services New Brunswickers need and rely on.

On this Labour Day, we celebrate and embrace your solidarity which is the backbone of working-class action. It is with this spirit of unity among all workers that we must keep on fighting for good jobs, strengthen the worker’s movement and workers’ power.

This year, we have heard so many heartbreaking and concerning examples of staff shortages. The root cause of this – the shortage of good jobs in both the private and the public sector – is what we must tackle. It is our systems that are failing us, not the frontline workers: we are committed to protecting our public services for all New Brunswickers.

Workers can no longer settle for the ongoing exploitation and poor working conditions that they were dealing with before the COVID-19 pandemic.

That is why CUPE is pushing to expand union rights to all workers in our province. Organizing, joining a union and fighting for better jobs, better protections and benefits, is the best way to guarantee workers have to make real change happen. 

This Labour Day, we recommit to building worker-to-worker solidarity. Let’s celebrate the extraordinary things that everyday people can accomplish when we combine our efforts and work together toward common goals. Collective action works.

On behalf of the 28 000 members of CUPE NB, we wish you and your family a safe and happy Labour Day.

In solidarity,

The CUPE NB Executive

Link to Labour Day events in your region: https://nb.cupe.ca/event/nb-labour-day-events/?instance_id=139

Download the flyer here: 2022_CUPE_Atlantic_Political_Summit_

Are you interested in fostering bargaining and political power within your local? Do you want to learn what is at stake and what it takes to develop policies and legislation which strengthen the labour movement? Would you consider helping in campaigns or running for a provincial or federal seat? Do you want to develop an NDP that works better for workers? Then please join MP Leah Gazan (MB), former MP Peggy Nash (ON), former MLA Howard Epstein (NS), NDP MLA Suzy Hansen (NS) and others to learn how to do just that.

We will look at the problem of decades of neo-liberal governance; how to fight back; develop an intersectional analysis; and develop a deeper understanding of climate justice from experts across the Atlantic.

• WHEN: Sunday, September 25th [evening] to Thursday, September 29th [half day]
• WHERE: Four Points Sheraton Halifax, 1496 Hollis Street, Halifax, NS B3J 3Z1
• COST: $1,200.00 – includes hotel and all meals [except dinner on Monday], $ 400.00 – includes lunches and dinners [except dinner on Monday]

REGISTER: https://cupe.ca/mrm-union-education/event/5504