CUPE Local 1251 asks for Commissioner

2007-06-27

Fredericton – Negotiations between CUPE Local 1251, which represents Correctional Officers, Custodians, Human Services Counsellors, Lab Assistants and Food Services Workers, and the Government are at a crossroad.

‘After two months of negotiations, we seem to be unable to reach an agreement with the Government’, explained Daniel Légère, President of CUPE Local 1251.

‘This week we have filed an application with the Labour and Employment Board to appoint a Commissioner. We hope a third party will help us to find a common ground.‘

‘During this round of negotiations, both parties agreed to expedited negotiation – a pilot project – but unfortunately, after close to 30 days of face to face negotiations, we stumbled on the wage issue.’

‘Our employers refuse to recognize the valuable work of our Correctional Officers. During our last round of negotiations, we made some improvements on the wage issue, but the Correctional Officers are still by far the lowest paid in the country’, explained Légère.

‘In a special meeting of Correction Officers in Saint John last evening, our members echoed their frustrations with the provincial government's lack of respect for their profession’, added Légère.

‘In the correctional services, we are also facing a recruitment and retention issue. Health and safety are a concern with these workers in the overcrowded jails.’

‘The same situation prevails for the community college custodians and the Human Services Counsellors which are still amongst the lowest paid in the region’, concluded Légère.

CUPE Local 1251 represents more than 500 workers who have been without a contract since last June.