Premier Higgs is trying to break basic labour laws on the issue of the paramedics’ reclassification.
CUPE has filed an Unfair Labour Practice complaint and an application pursuant to section 31 of Public Service Labour Relations Act (PSLRA) to the NB Labour and Employment Board with respect to the reclassification of paramedics. “They are making unilateral changes without any input from those currently legally representing paramedics,” said Simon Ouellette, CUPE Communications Representative
“Government’s political interference in the representation of workers and breaking the statutory freeze in negotiations go against sections 7(2) and 46 of the PSLRA,” said Ouellette.
“The PC/PANB alliance is misleading paramedics. Government has made absolutely zero signed guarantees of work conditions improvements for paramedics, and that really worries me,” said Brien Watson, President of CUPE NB.
“We have to act, because unchallenged, this illegal divide-and-conquer tactic sets a dangerous precedent for any unionized worker in this province,” said Watson.
“At the end of the day, we must not forget how the paramedic’s hard work requires improved wages, better hours, more personnel and no more overwork and burnouts,” concluded Watson.