UPDATE: Police Union Will Seek Binding Arbitration

The union representing Saint John police officers will seek binding arbitration in an effort to get a new contract.

Members of the Saint John Police Association (SJPA) made the announcement at a news conference Thursday morning.

Const. Duane Squires, president of the association, said the city’s “retrogressive” wage escalation policy has tied the hands of the Board of Police Commissioners.

The policy, which was passed by council in late 2019, caps any wage increases for 2020 at 1.36 per cent.

“For the first time since 2004, some 16 years, it is obvious to us that the dictates of this mayor and council will force the issue of wage parity to require the assistance of an independent binding arbitration board,” said Squires.

The association said it went before the police commission Wednesday and asked for a one-year contract to give them wage parity with Fredericton, but it was rejected.

Bob Davidson, the labour analyst with the New Brunswick Police Association, said there is a $2,800 difference between a first-class constable’s pay in Fredericton and Saint John, and asking for wage parity seemed reasonable.

A news release from the SJPA quoted a portion of the 2004 arbitration decision by then-chair Innis Christie.

“… seems obvious, that although Fredericton is the capital of New Brunswick, its policing issues are quite different. It is not as large as Saint John, does not have as much surrounding population, and it is not an industrial and port city. In my opinion, Saint John should be the clear leader in New Brunswick police pay,” it said.

The association also blamed the “totally unfair tax assessments on heavy industry” for causing cuts in policing and other services.

“Political manipulation results in the two Alberta refineries paying $26 million in municipal taxes, while the largest refinery in Canada, which is in Saint John, only pays $2.6 million in municipal taxes,” said Squires.

The SJPA has applied for a conciliation officer from the Department of Labour — the next step before binding arbitration.

‘Let Cooler Heads Prevail’

News of the police union’s plan to file for binding arbitration comes as a disappointment to Saint John’s mayor.

“I’m disappointed that groups can get together for one meeting for less than a couple of hours as I understand it and immediately jump to filing for the next step in an arbitration process,” said Darling following an event in the city Thursday.

Darling said the city’s wage escalation policy is about fairness and recognizing that taxpayers are paying the bills.

“The process that we’ve been in over the last, you know, 15 years has resulted in wage escalation at three times the rate of inflation, where we now have base pay in the $94,000 range,” he said.

Darling said first responders are “immensely respected”, but at the end of the day, the city cannot ignore the economic reality it is facing.

“I would say let’s let cooler heads prevail,” he said.