Trevor Holder is the minister of post-secondary education, training and labour in New Brunswick. (Submitted)
The provincial legislature resumed this week with opposition parties talking about the ongoing dispute with nursing home workers.
Green Party leader David Coon mentioned he found it appalling that negotiations with the CUPE team lasted only 128 minutes spread over five meetings since last March.
“It’s become clear that an agreement cannot be found at the bargaining table so it’s time for the Premier to end his resistance to binding arbitration.”
Coon said for the sake of nursing home workers, residents and their families, the dispute must be resolved.
During Question Period, Miramichi Bay-Neguac Liberal MLA Lisa Harris asked Post Secondary Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder why he didn’t speak with CUPE members outside his office and if he called the police.
“I can assure the member opposite I did not call the police. The police showed up Mr. Speaker. There was no phone call from my office whatsoever,” Holder responded.
Harris also told Minister Holder the government is torturing seniors by not offering something to the nursing home worker’s unions.
“It’s time for you to stand up and show you actually care about New Brunswick and what are you going to do about it?” Harris said.
Holder said as Minister of Labour he has to maintain a level of neutrality, while also stating he has made mediation teams available.
“Mr. Speaker, what I care about as Minister of Labour is that there is a fair collective bargaining process in place.” Holder said.
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