FREDERICTON, N.B. — CUPE Local 1840, representing provincial court stenographers, has voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike.
“For the second time in five years, the court stenographers have no other option but to take a strike action to obtain similar wages with their Maritimes counterpart and wage parity with a group of administrative workers of the same department”, said Local 1840 president Odette Robichaud.
“In December 2004, we presented our arguments in front of the conciliation board. Our members are in favour of the conciliation board’s recommendations even if it does not meet all our expectations. Yet, the government refuses once more to meet us half way and accept a third-party recommendation.”
“We know a strike will have an impact on the judicial system and will slow down the services. The Bernard Lord government has the power to avoid a second strike with a small group of women who are trying to obtain wage parity.”
In 2000, the court stenographers were on strike for 19 weeks. Local 1840 represents 64 court stenographers.
Contact: Odette Robichaud, Local 1840 president, (506) 337-5496; Rodolphe Martin
CUPE staff representative, (506) 735-3346.