Hon. Trevor A. Holder, Minister
Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour
Chestnut Complex
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1
May 28, 2019
Open Letter: Stop misinforming the public on the status of USW Local 7085 Lockout and Contract Negotiations with Nursing Home Workers
Dear Minister Holder:
I am writing on behalf of the 35,000 union members affiliated to the New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL). I am calling upon your government to stop misinforming the public about the on-going USW Local 7085 lockout and contract negotiations with nursing home workers. This misinforming is not helping to resolve either situation.
A media report recently quotes you as saying that talks are scheduled to resume between Glencore (Brunswick Smelter) and United Steelworkers Local 7085, following the appointment of two government mediators. Workers at Brunswick Smelter have been locked out for just over a month over issues of health, safety and union representation in the workplace. No talks or negotiations are scheduled between Glencore and USW Local 7085.
There have been several instances of misinformation pertaining to the ongoing nursing home workers’ saga. Government continues to stipulate it is bringing forth “enhanced offers” to the negotiation table. The simple fact is that the “enhanced offers” are the same as the one that was massively rejected by nursing home workers in a strike vote. The NBFL was also disappointed to learn that the Minister of Social Development released false information on May 14th when she claimed that nursing home contract negotiations had broken off. When this statement was made, parties were still at the bargaining table.
The New Brunswick Federation of Labour would like you to print a retraction of your statement that talks are scheduled between Glencore and USW local 7085.
Sincerely,
Patrick Colford
NBFL President
-30-
For information, contact Patrick Colford
(506) 381-8969 (cell)
Media story regarding Brunswick Smelter: http://www.iheartradio.ca/max-104-9/max-news/n-b-assigns-pair-of-mediators-to-deal-with-strike-at-brunswick-smelter-1.9273699?fbclid=IwAR1_zjC_iXNrlJMXamoGa7ZtI4KM1l7-zG-0FqLKEtyP-LruIgdoTtEiaXc
May 14 GNB media release: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/social_development/news/news_release.2019.05.0314.html