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Defend Public Interest by Upholding Workers' Rights! Stop Anti-Social Assault on Locked Out New Brunswick Education Workers!On October 31, the New Brunswick government locked out some 3,000 striking education workers, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE NB). Approximately 20,000 workers who are members of the union are currently on strike for wages they deem acceptable and essential to solving the problem of retaining and attracting workers in public services. In its October 31 press release, CUPE NB wrote:
Even though the union had reached essential services agreements to maintain services in all affected sectors, the government has closed schools until the strike is over and imposed home-based online learning. Education workers designated as essential have been placed on unpaid leave. Since the strike began, the government has issued daily press releases, blaming workers for creating instability amongst the population and negatively impacting the delivery of health services and the pandemic response. It continues to claim that the workers' strike actions are unpredictable, even though the workers gave the government 100 days' notice before going on strike. The lockout of 3,000 education workers is yet another abuse of power and refusal to sort out problems in a peaceful manner that respects hardworking people with families without whom the schools do not function. For the government to resort to online learning for students is also unacceptable. It suggests that schools are no longer needed for children. It disrupts parents lives as if parents too are disposable. It is an unconscionable abuse of government power. This abuse of power is doubly wrong as it comes after the lack of social contact between children as a result of the pandemic and the harm that has caused young people. The cause of the education workers is just and the government's action of locking them out and resorting to online learning is immoral. The government deserves to be truly condemned for this abuse of power. Workers' Forum calls on the people of New Brunswick to let the government know they condemn this anti-social assault on all the people of New Brunswick. |
"The Government
of New Brunswick has locked out the education workers of CUPE 2745 and
CUPE 1253. At 11:20 am, the Ministry of Education gave notice to CUPE
that, effective immediately, the government will lock out school bus
drivers, custodians, janitors, educational assistants, student
intervention workers, student attendants, speech therapy assistants,
school administrative assistants and clerks, district administrative
support and library workers. Workers in positions designated are being
placed on leave without pay. This is clearly a move by the government
to try to divide CUPE and create chaos. Premier Higgs can choose to end
job action by paying public sector workers the fair wages we deserve.
Instead, the Premier and Minister Cardy have chosen to lock out
education workers and prolong the withdrawal of services. Our union is
stronger, and a fair deal is more likely when we are united. The
government is choosing to dig in and we now expect they are planning
more divisive actions to come. CUPE members will remain united and in
solidarity across sectors and classifications in this fight."
