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Fredericton The Canadian Union of Public Employees is condemning the Lord Governments threat of back to work legislation.

The government should go back to the table and negotiate a contract with CUPE Local 1251 instead of threatening their workers with back to work legislation, said CUPE president David Rouse.

The threat of the government is an attack on free collective bargaining of all union members in the province. Its not the way to negotiate negotiation happens at the table not at the legislature.

CUPE is holding mass membership meetings all across the province to discuss a plan of action concerning the strike of Local 1251. If the government is trying to legislate us back to work, we are not going to stand by, said Rouse. Nobody has forgotten what happened in 2001 with the hospital workers.

We are also worried about the effect of the strike on the students of the Community Colleges. If the Premier is concerned, he just needs to go back to the table as soon as possible, and be willing to negotiate a fair contract.

The Public Service Labour Relations Act gives the workers the right to strike. Government should respect this fundamental right, said Rouse.

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For more information:
David Rouse, CUPE NB President (506) 432-0618
Danielle Savoie, Communications (506) 381-1966