Labour Update: What’s the outlook for New Brunswick’s labour movement? [video]

In this interview, the NB Media Co-op examines the outlook for the labour movement in New Brunswick during a time of rapid political changes.

Chris Watson, interim president of the NB Federation of Labour, spoke to NB Media Co-op volunteer Connor Kelly — who is also the federation’s Vice-President responsible for Young Workers — about some of the major issues facing workers in New Brunswick.

Those issues include bargaining between CUPE 1190 and the provincial government of Liberal Premier Susan Holt, which got underway on Jan. 22. The two sides announced on Tuesday evening that they had reached a tentative agreement.

Details of the deal haven’t been released, pending ratification by members of the local. CUPE 1190 represents some 2,200 general labour and trades workers in the provincial public service, who voted overwhelmingly to strike last summer.

Bargaining soon came to a halt as the writ dropped for the provincial election, before resuming last week. Major issues include wages and benefits for casual employees, who represent roughly one third of the local’s membership.

Watson said labour leaders remain hopeful for improvements in the relationship between the government and labour following six years of “extremely tense” relations with the former Conservative government under Premier Blaine Higgs.

Anti-scab legislation

Watson also called for the province to adopt provincial anti-scab legislation, which would ban the use of replacement workers during a strike or lockout.

Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government passed anti-scab legislation affecting federally-regulated employers last year. Provincially, an anti-scab bill tabled last May by the Green Party’s Megan Mitton didn’t make it past first reading.

The federation’s interim president also discussed the rightward turn in politics marked by the inauguration of President Donald Trump and the rising political fortunes of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre.

Watson noted Poilievre’s political record, such as his 2014 vote against a federal minimum wage of $15 per hour and his opposition to national pharmacare. “His track record isn’t the best,” said Watson, who noted that the federation supports the NDP.

Other topics of discussion included Amazon’s decision to close its facilities in Quebec and to cut some 1,700 jobs following the recent unionization of employees at a warehouse in Laval, Que. The company said its decision is unrelated to unionization efforts, but Watson said the move was “clearly a union-busting tactic.”

He also noted plans including the federation’s upcoming convention, which is taking place in Saint John at the end of May, and scholarships for students that are available through the federation.

Watson became interim president of the federation following the death of Danny Légère in December. The interim president paid tribute to Légère, noting his role in mentoring younger workers like himself.

Connor Kelly is a staff member with the United Food and Commercial Workers. David Gordon Koch is a staff reporter with the NB Media Co-op. This reporting has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS).