Labour Day: Unions celebrate historic wins and focus on workers’ agenda for upcoming election
This Labour Day, unions in New Brunswick are celebrating some historic wins. We’ve made significant progress on key issues over the years: first contract arbitration, pharmacare and sustainable jobs to name a few. These achievements are a testament to what workers can achieve when we come together. However, hard-won gains are at risk as anti-worker politicians are being elected at all levels of government.
“The workers vote is key to winning the upcoming provincial election and all of the political parties know this,” says Daniel Legere, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour. “We are ready to challenge the rhetoric that we are hearing. Pretty words and empty promises mean nothing when the government’s track record shows they are not on workers’ side.”
The New Brunswick Federation of Labour has evaluated the Higgs government’s performance in 4 key areas: health care, economic security, protecting marginalized New Brunswickers and Protecting/Advancing Workers’ Rights.
“Premier Higgs and his majority government have failed New Brunswickers in all four of these key areas,” adds Legere. “Governments should not be run like a business. Its focus should be on the public good and not on its bottom line. Let’s work together to elect progressive MLAs who will focus on New Brunswickers’ priorities, protecting the marginalized, advancing rights and solving the affordability crisis.”
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For Information, contact
Daniel Legere
President, New Brunswick Federation of Labour
(506) 381-8969
Here are the details of NBFL’s evaluation of the Higgs Government:
Healthcare : Grade F (fail)
Heavy focus on privatization
Refusal to bring Long Term Care under healthcare
No retention initiatives for health care professionals
Refusal to collaborate with mental health professionals
Economic Security: Grade F (fail)
Skyrocketing food and housing costs
Refusal to implement rent cap
Stagnant social assistance rates
Minimum wage rate leads to poverty
Budget surpluses while New Brunswickers are suffering
Protecting Marginalized People: Grade F (fail)
Indigenous land claims
LGBTQ+ – policy 713 in schools
Language rights – Flip flop French Immersion in schools
Inaction following report on systemic racism
Protecting / Advancing Workers’ Rights: Grade F (fail)
Anti-worker Bill 23, amending Public Services Labour Relations Act, adopted in 2022
Unconstitutional Bill 17, violating signed collective agreements, adopted in 2023
Heavy hand leading to extreme labour unrest
Contracting out to private for-profit travel nurse agencies
