Public Sector Workers Oppose Government DictateSimon Ouellette is the Communications Representative, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Maritimes (New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island). Workers' Forum: In its December 11 press release, the Canadian Union of Public Employees New Brunswick, opposes the imposition of a wage freeze on public sector workers by the Blaine Higgs government. Can you tell us more about this?
In the days leading up to our meeting with the Premier, we learned through the media that the government intends to impose a wage freeze on the entire public service. The Premier confirmed to us at our meeting that he intends to impose a wage freeze for the first year and then a wage restraint on the entire public service, unionized and non-unionized. This statement is not being made at the bargaining tables. It is being made publicly, in the newspapers, in a politicized manner. It's shocking to hear that, especially in a time of pandemic. There are negotiations going on right now, among health care workers in particular, but they are not real negotiations because the government's offer to them is a wage freeze followed by wage restraint, which is exactly what we heard at our meeting. There's really no room for bargaining in there. WF: What is CUPE's position on this government dictate? SO: We've been saying for years that wages have been stagnating for at least a dozen years. We have faced zero increases, one per cent increases, wage restraint mandates from previous administrations. Wage increases over all these years have been well below the increase in the cost of living. All of this has resulted in our members falling behind in terms of their real purchasing power. We want to counteract that. The cost of living is rising. In New Brunswick, the cost of rent is out of control right now, there is a housing crisis in the province. New Brunswick is the province in Canada where tenants' rights are weakest. It is a paradise for landlords. Gasoline and heating are extremely expensive. The electricity bill is much higher in New Brunswick than in Quebec for example. We have small province wages with big city bills. In our opinion, the best way out of the pandemic is by stimulating sustainable growth, putting money in the pockets of our workers, into our public infrastructure, into our public systems. You can't stimulate growth through subsidies to corporations. CUPE is going to fight the imposition of a wage freeze and wage restraints. At the end of the day, the people who have the last word are our members. It's up to them at each table to decide what they want to do. We have faced the pandemic, there is hope at the end of the tunnel now, we have been able to come together and stand together against this virus. If we can stand up to a virus, we can stand up to this government as well. That's why we have our slogan "Front Line Heroes Shouldn't Get Zeros." By frontline workers, we mean public service workers, and I include workers in the private sector as well, like those in grocery stores, retail and others who do phenomenal work. Having a base salary for everyone that's decent is like the rising tide that lifts all boats. It can't go on the way it is. We have retention and recruitment crises in almost every area of public service. The government of New Brunswick does not recognize this problem and it is not its desire to solve it either. It is not a new problem in the Maritimes. Many people who have wanted to improve their working conditions have moved away. New Brunswick has had some population declines in the last few years. People of working age are leaving in large numbers. Those who stay are the older people who need care, but there are fewer people of working age who stay because they want to make a life elsewhere.
I think that working for the public sector is something that makes one very proud. But working conditions and wages have declined. Workers deserve better wages and working conditions. That is the issue. CUPE made it very clear to the Premier that it does not agree with the wage freeze/restriction mandate the Higgs government wants to impose on public sector workers. (Translated from original French by Workers' Forum. Photos: WF)
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Simon Ouellette:
CUPE New Brunswick organized a press conference on the afternoon of
December 11 immediately after meeting with the Premier. At our request,
the Premier agreed to meet with the elected officials of the major CUPE
locals in the province, large locals that are without a collective
agreement at this time.
Some have been without a contract since 2016, the majority of them have
been without a contract since 2018. We're talking about 20,500 workers
who are struggling with governments that have not wanted to negotiate
with them in recent years, both the Liberals who let negotiations drag
on and the Conservatives in power at this time.
Things
have changed a lot in the public sector. Before, in the 1970s and
1980s, a worker wanted to finish his or her career in the public
service, with a good pension, a good job, a good wage. This includes
workers in the trades, such as welders and others. People did
everything they could to get a job in the public sector. Now it's the
other
way around. The private sector wants the province to cover the costs of
training, wants the province to pick up the young people who come out
of schools and community colleges, do their apprenticeship years and
then have them end up in the private sector. Big corporate giants like
Irving have put a lot of pressure on the provincial government to
reverse the situation so that the private sector can have its workers
trained from the public purse. It's a form of outsourcing labour costs
by large corporations.