N.B. Liberal Leader Says Strike Has Premier Blaine Higgs In ‘Panic Mode’

FREDERICTON – Stagnant labour negotiations between the province and 22,000 unionized public sector workers was the main focus when the New Brunswick legislature resumed on Tuesday afternoon.

Thousands of striking CUPE NB workers sat on the doorstep of the legislature, using chants and horns that could be heard throughout the sitting.

Premier Blaine Higgs came under fire for his part in the negotiations that led to the strike.

“Put your ego aside. Stop flexing your muscles. Be responsible,” Liberal Leader Roger Melanson told Higgs.

“That’s not how you treat employees. That’s not HR 101. You ought to respect them, you ought to value them, you ought to give them decent and respectable working conditions. And benefits that make sense.”

Melanson said the premier is in “panic mode” and that’s why the throne speech, originally planned for Tuesday afternoon, was cancelled.

Party leaders repeatedly asked the premier when he plans to return to the bargaining table, to which he responded a date has not been set but he is prepared for negotiations to resume if there is a “fair deal for New Brunswickers.”

Green Party Leader David Coon suggested the premier has focused negotiations on the wrong topics.

“Why is the premier holding 22,000 public servants and all of New Brunswickers hostage to his demands for concessions on pension plans, when the negotiations are supposed to be about fair wages for the workers of this province.”

Higgs criticized the question, stating that pensions and benefits are a crucial part of the contracts.

On multiple occasions, CUPE New Brunswick President Stephen Drost has stated they refuse to sign a contract that includes concessions.

Higgs stated that it is not his government prolonging negotiations.

“CUPE National are driving the bus, Mr. Speaker. CUPE National are driving this negotiation, and that is why we do not have a deal,” Higgs said.

At the start of the sitting, MLA Kevin Arseneau requested the adjournment of the house to commence an emergency debate on the CUPE New Brunswick matter.

The Speaker of the house said, “given recent media reports it does seem more likely than not that this very matter will be brought before the house in a reasonable time by other means, accordingly based on this reason the matter will not go forward at this time.”

By Robert Lothian, a reporter with 91.9 The Bend in Moncton, a Huddle content partner.