Premier Higgs Calls Government Offer To Unions ‘Good And Fair’
SAINT JOHN–Premier Blaine Higgs believes the offer made to CUPE last week is a “really good offer for employees.”
Higgs said the offer includes an average of 15 percent pay increase over five years, including wage adjustments. The annual increases are retroactive, since many of the contracts have expired.
He said specific amounts will vary based on several different factors but, on average, each employee would receive $7,000 in retroactive pay.
He said Thursday’s offer was in its final form, something he made clear to CUPE representatives.
“Because that’s what I learned on Friday from speaking to many–that further clarification was needed. We need to ensure all the facts are on the table. So I think that it’s important that is the next step, and a vote from the membership. That is what we need to see now,” Higgs said.
The Premier offered to host a town hall to further explain aspects of the current offer. He said he’s heard a lot of misconceptions about a targeted benefit plan or shared risk plan.
Higgs said he’s also heard comments wondering why the MLAs aren’t on this plan.
“I guess it’s important to know that in the case of the shared risk plan, the MLAs have been on it since 2014,” Higgs said.
“The actuaries will get together and they look at the plans for 1253 and 2745 and understand the condition the plans are in and create a path forward that is sustainable. Any path forward would see the plans get fully funded to start the process because right now they are significantly underfunded. While we can argue that taxpayers just should continue to fund whatever is required. It’s not fair and reasonable for taxpayers,” Higgs said.
Meanwhile, CUPE New Brunswick is calling on the Premier to sign the deal the proposed, or resign.
In a video posted to social media, union president Stephen Drost delivered the message.
“You want us to vote on a deal, then sign CUPE’s offer so we can vote. If you don’t want to vote, then it’s time to resign,” he said.
Drost says the government’s wage offer is conditional.
“He says, you can have these wage increases, only if CUPE 2745 and 1253 sign a memorandum of agreement that gives away their defined pension plans first,” Drost said.
The Centralized Bargaining Team is asking Higgs to return to the bargaining table.
“We ask that you respond to the Centralized Bargaining Team’s package that you received on November 5th, 2021 or return to the bargaining table to resolve the wage package. The sooner this can happen, the sooner the frontline workers can return to work to provide frontline services for all New Brunswickers.”
Tamara Steele is a reporter with CHSJ/Country 94, Huddle content partners.