NB Labour Strike Taking a Toll on Province's COVID-19 Recovery

Picket lines formed across New Brunswick, including right here in Charlotte County, this week with members of 10 locals from CUPE, the Canadian Union of Employees, demanding higher wages than the government wants to provide. For more on this, here's CHCO's Ian Curran with our top story.  

Construction workers, custodial staff, social workers, teaching assistance and bus drivers were among the CUPE members lining King Street in St. Stephen on Friday during day one of an ongoing strike. CUPE is asking for a 3% pay increase each year for the next 4 years. The New Brunswick government is offering an 8.5% pay increase over 5 years and they've yet to come to an agreement that suits both parties.  

The strike is affecting students across New Brunswick who are now learning from home after Education Minister Dominic Cardy locked education support staff out of schools across the province on Monday, ordering students to continue their learning online. St. Stephen High School students and staff went back to school on Monday, but only to empty their lockers, pick up their things and head back home for an unknown amount of time while the strike carries on. At a press conference on Monday, Cardy said he'd be willing to work with CUPE to keep schools open if the union would coordinate its strike action with his department.

Monday night, the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board ruled in favour of CUPE after it challenged the government for not paying educational assistants designated essential during a strike.

Premier Blaine Higgs cancelled Tuesday's Throne's Speech, which traditionally marks the start of a new legislative session, a move that suggests the Premier is trying to get a head start passing a bill under the Emergency Measures Act that would issue essential workers who are on strike back to work. In a virtual press conference on Monday, the Premier confirmed that back to work legislation could be in the cards in the near future. 

"It doesn't mean it is coming tomorrow or next week, but..." said Higgs, eluding that it's not off the table. 

The strike is having an impact on the province's COVID-19 response with the cancellation of many vaccination clinics coupled with limited testing capacity that is now being focused on priority groups. Despite the strained resources, people age 65 and older are now able to book an appointment for a vaccine booster shot provided 6 months have passed since their second dose. Also currently eligible for third doses are school personnel, healthcare workers, longterm care staff and residents of First Nations communities. 

Finally, the St. Andrews, St. Stephen and St. George fire departments responded to a house fire last Tuesday on Frederick Street in St. Andrews. Members of the household got out safely while firefighters worked into the night to put out the flames. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The family who live in the home and are currently staying with family members while they look for a long-term rental property in the Saint Andrews area while their home is being restored. The local branch of the sea cadets is currently holding a fundraiser for the displaced family. Visit the 352 Fundy Sea Cadets' Facebook page for more information on how you can help.