CUPE president Stephen Drost and Premier Blaine Higgs met Thursday afternoon and into the evening, discussing possible compromises that could end the week-old strike by CUPE workers.
On Thursday afternoon, CUPE zone shop steward Pat Lekas said local CUPE workers on the picket line were, “hoping for good news.”
“We’re hoping the premier has seen the light. But we’re not backing down,” said Lekas.
CUPE is asking for a 3% annual raise in wages for contracts dating back a number of years, while the government recently lowered their offer to an average of 1.7% per year. The government is also asking to bring another CUPE local into its shared risk pension plan, which would mean members benefits and payments could fluctuate, depending on how the fund performs.
Lekas says the pension issue is an important one for her local, 2745, which includes school support workers. She also says that educational assistants like herself, whom Higgs has offered to bring into the pension plan, already have access to pension benefits, if only as part-time employees.
Educational assistants are considered part time employees “because we only get a maximum of 30 hours a week,” says Lekas. “But we do have access to and we do participate in a pension plan.”
With just one additional hour per week educational assistants would be considered full time and have access to full time pension contributions, says Lekas.
Some parents have been boycotting online school for their kids as a way to show support for CUPE workers, but Lekas is mum on whether CUPE supports that move. “That is absolutely the parents’ choice on whether or not to participate in online learning,” says Lekas. “CUPE is not taking a stance one way or the other. We’re respecting the parents’ choice.”
Lekas said Sackville strikers are energized “because of the immense support from the public, from the businesses,” in Sackville. “It’s just overwhelming. It really warms your heart to know you are appreciated that much by the public. It gives us the strength to go on, in the rain, when it’s cold, when it’s windy. We’re united, so we’re strong.”
Lekas says she is expecting some special visitors on the picket line in Sackville today.
Serge Landry, the regional representative for the Canadian Labour Congress, Daniel Légère, the President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour, and Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions are planning to walk the line with CUPE members at about 12:30pm today in downtown Sackville.
Local CUPE member Faye Tower was inspired by the strike and the Premier’s communications around the ongoing labour dispute:
