NB Update: Trump’s trade war, labour’s fight against domestic violence, CUPE 1190’s new contract and more [video]

On this edition of the NB Update, we bring you labour perspectives on U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, the fight against intimate partner violence, an update on collective bargaining, and more. This show is part of our Labour Update series.

Our guests on this episode include economist Jim Stanford, director of the Vancouver-based Centre for Future Work. Speaking to NB Media Co-op volunteer Lance Francis, he said the “ultimate challenge” posed by Trump’s tariffs will be to make Canada economically independent from the United States. “That is going to be a big, historic challenge,” he said.

Stanford called for stronger employment benefits to help workers navigate the crisis. A program similar to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — introduced by the feds at the height of the COVID-19 crisis — might be necessary to prevent financial ruin for many families. “We’ve gotta stand together,” he said.

He also critiqued the push for faster development of oil, gas and mineral projects, and slammed calls for “cost-cutting” in the public service modelled on Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency. “The idea of cutbacks is absolutely wrong,” he said.

Organized labour combats domestic violence

Other guests include Tasha Salesse of the Public Service Alliance of Canada — who is also the VP responsible for Women’s Issues with the NB Federation of Labour — and Jennifer Murray, Atlantic Regional Director of Unifor.

They’re campaigning for governments across the country to recognize intimate partner violence as an epidemic. Salesse, a survivor of intimate partner violence, explained that workplace safety planning is key to address the issue.

They also called for an increase in paid domestic violence leave, among other policy changes. Salesse and Murray outlined those demands in an interview with NB Media Co-op volunteer Connor Kelly, VP responsible for Young Workers with the NB Federation of Labour.

They also discussed issues including holding employers accountable for workplace deaths, and solidarity in the face of the economic crisis triggered by Trump’s tariffs. “We need to rally around each other,” Murray said.

CUPE 1190 wins better wages, tool and boot allowances

This edition also features Jonathan Guimond, president of CUPE 1190 — which represents 2,200 general labour and trades workers in the provincial public service — who spoke about a collective agreement recently signed with the province. Union members ratified the agreement earlier this year after previously voting overwhelmingly in favour of strike action last summer.

The two sides managed to avoid a strike by negotiating a contract that includes a $5 per hour wage increase over four years. The previous government under Premier Blaine Higgs had proposed a percentage-based wage increase that would have failed to meet the increased cost of living, Guimond said.

He said the average worker in CUPE 1190 earns around $25 per hour, but two-thirds of members are on the low end of the pay scale, closer to $20 per hour.

They also won the first increase in workers’ allowance for boots and tools more than 20 years, he said. An annual $100 boot allowance has been increased to $175 under the new contract, while a $250 tool allowance is now $375.

The NB Update is a collaboration between the NB Media Co-op and CHCO TV. This edition was produced and edited by NB Media Co-op staff reporter David Gordon Koch. Volunteers Lance Francis and Connor Kelly handled interviews, and Robert MacKay assisted with camera work. Many thanks to all of our guests. 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).