CUPE members from New Brunswick attended the Workers Unite! Film Festival in New York City this week for the premiere of Bargaining Forward, a bilingual documentary about their 2021 strike.
In 2021, 22,000 CUPE public service workers in New Brunswick went on strike after years of wage freezes and provincial austerity. Through bold collective action, they won 15-17% wage increases and full pay for casual workers—a pivotal victory for public sector unions. Bargaining Forward captures the story of this strike, showcasing how CUPE coordinated bargaining strategy united workers across sectors, resulting in significant gains and sparking labour action across Canada.
The New York screening brought CUPE members together with labour activists from around the world. During a post-screening Q&A, the audience burst into applause as CUPE participants announced the ouster this week of New Brunswick’s anti-worker Conservative government and provided updates on ongoing coordinated bargaining efforts.
Bargaining Forward will also be featured in the online portion of the Workers Unite! Film Festival and at in-person events across Canada as part of the Canadian Labour International Film Festival in November. These screenings will continue to amplify the story of CUPE’s New Brunswick members and connect it with global movements advocating for workers’ rights, underscoring the power of solidarity and inspiring workers everywhere in the fight for fairness.