CUPE New Brunswick and the provincial government have reached a stalemate in contract negotiations and more than 22,000 public sector employees are expected to cast strike votes starting this week.
Talks broke off on Friday and wages seem to be one of the most contentious issues.
The province’s recent offer is a 1.25 percent wage hike per year over four years with a two percent increase for the remaining two years while CUPE seeks five percent per year over the six-year term.
Premier Blaine Higgs said the province must be prudent as it recovers from the pandemic while CUPE maintained the province was not interested in bargaining unless the union accepted concessions.
The ten locals of CUPE New Brunswick include employees from sectors such as education, justice, corrections, social development, transportation and tourism along with staff at Crown corporations like NBCC and NB Liquor.
In the event of a strike, the province said contingency plans are in place and some workers are deemed essential during a walkout.
