2023 New Year’s Message
On behalf of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL), and its 40,000 affiliated members, I would like to extend my best wishes to all workers in New Brunswick for a happy, healthy and safe new year.
This past year has been a difficult one for workers. Inflation is at an all-time high, impacting the cost of many essential items such as heating oil and gas, food and housing. Many workers have seen little wage growth over the past years, meaning that they are falling further and further behind. All the while the federal government made changes to weaken the employment insurance program, making it harder to qualify for benefits.
A recruitment and retention crisis persists in the New Brunswick public sector impacting health, education and other public services that everyone, including the most vulnerable and newcomers to New Brunswick, depend on. Will newcomers arriving in New Brunswick decide to stay if they cannot access quality public services?
Low wage earners in New Brunswick still do not have access to 10 paid sick days per year. According to a report prepared by APEC, more than 41% of workers in New Brunswick earn less than a living wage and struggle to make ends meet.
Workers are coming together to combat these challenges in solidarity. The New Brunswick Federation of Labour will continue its work at the forefront of this fight to improve wages and working conditions for all New Brunswick workers and their families.
Organized labour is a vital voice in shaping our communities. As a movement we tackle issues that impact everyone – safe workplaces, minimum wage, pension and retirement security, protection of public services, defending the right to free collective bargaining, and so much more. Our advocacy continues to make significant changes for the better – but we have more work to do. We must remain committed to the long-term project of building a province and an economy that works for everyone.
Our greatest strength is our people and our passion. I look forward to working with all of you in the year ahead and advancing the campaigns and issues that we know make a difference.
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For additional information, please contact
Daniel Legere
President, New Brunswick Federation of Labour
(506) 381-8969 (cell)