A Labour Day message from the NB Federation of Labour

Once again, the NBFL successfully hosted our Blair Doucet Youth Summer Camp, named in memory of Brother Bair Doucet, NBFL President from 1999-2005, who founded the youth camp. This year marked its tenth anniversary.

On this Labour Day, let’s keep in mind the three municipal employees of Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, members of CUPE Local 4576. On June 16th, 2010, they were locked out by the Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska village council. The Mayor and Council are looking to cut jobs, benefits, job security and seniority, and were unwilling to continue negotiations to try and find common ground at the bargaining table. The collective agreement of CUPE Local 4576 expired in December 2009.

2010 Provincial Election: We Deserve Better!

This message finds us in the middle of an election campaign. On September 27th, New Brunswickers will go to the polls to elect a new government. This government will make decisions and adopt legislation that will affect our lives and communities. This is why it is important to make sure that our issues are on their agenda.

Since the last provincial election in 2006, our current government made several bad decisions that negatively affected workers and their families. These decisions include: undermining free collective bargaining, increasing the number of public-private partnerships, cutting public services and implementing a regressive tax regime that benefits high-income earners and large corporations while increasing user fees for all New Brunswickers.

During this election campaign, the NBFL will not be standing on the sidelines. We have developed a campaign called WE DESERVE BETTER! to highlight our priorities. Our campaign focuses on 1) improving health, safety and compensation laws, programs and services for injured workers; 2) maintaining ownership and control over our public infrastructure by countering the growth of costly public-private partnerships; 3) reinstating a progressive tax system where everyone pays their fair share of income tax to ensure the existence of the public services that we all need.

Our pamphlet and other material relating to the provincial election can be downloaded on our website at: http://www.nbfl-fttnb.ca/index_en.php.  I invite you to talk about our issues with your electoral candidates leading up to the provincial election. Together we will make a difference.

“Courage, my friends; tis not too late to build a better world,” said Tommy Douglas.