Friday, October 4, 2002 (Fredericton) – The more than 1200 members of CUPE 1418 have voted overwhelmingly in favour of accepting the tentative agreement, as recommended by their negotiating team. Eighty per cent of members, representing 13 professional groups from across the province, voted to accept the government’s latest offer and return to work.
“Our members have finally been treated with the respect they deserve,” said Anne Hogan, President of CUPE 1418. “We got what our members wanted all along – an across the board wage increase for all our members and concrete measures to address recruitment and retention. There is no way that we would have achieved these goals if our membership had not stood strong through four very difficult weeks. I am very, very proud of CUPE 1418.”
The new contract includes a wage increase of 12.5% over four years for all members of local 1418 and an additional 4.8% for social workers – the group for whom recruitment and retention has become the key issue.
Local 1418 had been on strike since September 4. Since that date members across the province had engaged in a series of peaceful actions including “sitting-in” at the offices of MLAs, that and culminated in a mass rally in Fredericton on September 28.
“There is no question that the tremendous show of strength we displayed last Saturday helped to turn up the heat,” said Anne Hogan. “Our members were awesome. More than a thousand people taking to the streets to stand up for their rights - it was a tremendous show of solidarity.”
The rally was attended by members of CUPE 1418 from across New Brunswick, along with supporters including Terry Carter of the NB Federation of Labour and CUPE’s National President, Judy Darcy.
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For more information:
Anne Hogan, President, CUPE 1418,
506-850-1753 (cell)
Robert LeMoignan, CUPE 1418,
506-545-5441 (cell)
Laurie Kingston, CUPE Communications,
613-266-1415 (cell)
“Our members have finally been treated with the respect they deserve,” said Anne Hogan, President of CUPE 1418. “We got what our members wanted all along – an across the board wage increase for all our members and concrete measures to address recruitment and retention. There is no way that we would have achieved these goals if our membership had not stood strong through four very difficult weeks. I am very, very proud of CUPE 1418.”
The new contract includes a wage increase of 12.5% over four years for all members of local 1418 and an additional 4.8% for social workers – the group for whom recruitment and retention has become the key issue.
Local 1418 had been on strike since September 4. Since that date members across the province had engaged in a series of peaceful actions including “sitting-in” at the offices of MLAs, that and culminated in a mass rally in Fredericton on September 28.
“There is no question that the tremendous show of strength we displayed last Saturday helped to turn up the heat,” said Anne Hogan. “Our members were awesome. More than a thousand people taking to the streets to stand up for their rights - it was a tremendous show of solidarity.”
The rally was attended by members of CUPE 1418 from across New Brunswick, along with supporters including Terry Carter of the NB Federation of Labour and CUPE’s National President, Judy Darcy.
-30-
For more information:
Anne Hogan, President, CUPE 1418,
506-850-1753 (cell)
Robert LeMoignan, CUPE 1418,
506-545-5441 (cell)
Laurie Kingston, CUPE Communications,
613-266-1415 (cell)