**Updated at 4:18 p.m. Friday**
All schools in New Brunswick will move to online learning starting Monday amid a strike by thousands of public-sector employees in the province.
Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Dominic Cardy said Friday afternoon that online learning will continue until the strike is over.
“Students need the stability and routine that a regular schedule can provide. We know that’s important for their overall well-being,” said Cardy.
Schools across New Brunswick were closed Friday as bus drivers, mechanics, custodians and educational assistants joined thousands of other workers on the picket line.
Seven of 10 CUPE locals who are in a legal strike positioned walked off the job at 6 a.m. Friday.
Cardy said the union only gave the province “a few hours of notice” that buses would not be running and no formal notice that other staff would be taking strike action.
“When we receive no formal notification of a walkout by people who are essential for the well-being of our province’s children in the form of the education assistants and the janitors to keep our schools clean in the time of a pandemic … we really were not left with any choice but to say that we have to make a decision based on the best interests of the children and the rest of the staff,” he said.
A number of early childhood education centres are located in schools across the province, and Cardy said the province will work to ensure they can keep the centres operating during the strike.
CUPE New Brunswick members picket in the area of Loch Lomond Road and McAllister Drive in Saint Joh. (Image: Tamara Steele)
Strike action began Friday morning
CUPE New Brunswick announced early Friday morning that its members would begin striking at 6 a.m.
“From the front lines to the picket lines at 6 am today,” said a short news release from the union.
More than 20,000 public-sector workers in 10 locals have been in a legal strike position since earlier in October.
The seven locals who chose to strike Friday included educational support employees, transportation, rehab and therapy, custodians and school bus drivers, as well as Anglophone and Francophone community college workers.
CUPE NB President Stephen Drost says pickets are up across the province, “They are being held in at least fifteen, maybe twenty communities across the province, maybe more. They are being held in areas where there is a lot of public.”
He says these workers haven’t had a fair wage in 15 to 20 years, and they have been waiting five years to have a contract.
“We have ten provincial groups working in every sector, because they are all in a legal position to strike. They’ve done everything, legally by the book, through the entire bargaining process. respectful, polite, flexible, willing to negotiate and twice the employers walked away from the table.”
Members of CUPE Local 1253 at picketing at the intersection of Loch Lomond Road/McAllister Drive and Champlain Drive. pic.twitter.com/HijWcgQWhh
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) October 29, 2021
The strike action also impacted several river ferries across southern New Brunswick on Friday.
At one point, the Peninsula Princess, Evandale, Belleisle, Kennebecais Island, and Gondola Point ferries were all down.
By late afternoon, the Peninsula Princess had returned to service while one of two boats at Gondola Point was in operation, according to New Brunswick 511.
Mark Taylor, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, said the plan is to have the Peninsula Princess ferry and one boat each at the Gondola Point and Westfield crossings operating “as much as possible” throughout the weekend.
Taylor encouraged motorists to check NB 511 frequently over the weekend for the latest updates.
He noted that the Grand Manan, Deer Island and White Head Island ferries are not impacted by strike action as they are privately operated.
Higgs government still ‘considering its options’
Premier Blaine Higgs called the disruptions caused by the strike “completely unnecessary.”
“We may see more impacts across other sectors in the coming days,” said Higgs.
Higgs said the province put a “fair offer” on the table this week, even higher than what the government had offered other bargaining units.
The government had been offering a 10 per cent wage increase over five years but pulled the offer after talks broke off. CUPE’s most recent offer included a 12 per cent wage increase over four years, down from its initial ask of 20 per cent.
On Thursday, the province said it is now offering 8.5 per cent, which it says is similar to agreements reached with three other bargaining units.
“I feel the membership are not fully aware of the extent of the offer that is on the table,” said Higgs. “If the union refuses to work with us to reach a reasonable agreement for both sides, we will take the action necessary.”
Higgs said the government is “considering its options,” which could include back-to-work legislation.
“I hope, however, this will not be necessary,” he said, adding there is still an opportunity to have further discussions.
Party leaders chiming in on strike
New Brunswick’s People’s Alliance party believes it is possible for the labour dispute to be resolved.
Leader Kris Austin is urging both sides to return to the bargaining table.
He says the breakdown of negotiations and the start of strike action is disappointing.
Austin adds this dispute cannot be resolved unless both the government and the union are willing to come to an agreement that is fair for everyone.
Green Party leader David Coon is also urging the premier to get back to the negotiating table with the union.
Interim Liberal leader Roger Melanson says the premier needs to be accountable for this “unwanted” strike.
With files from Tara Clow, Robert Lothian, Brad Perry, and Tamara Steele.
Members of CUPE occupy the sidewalks along Mountain Road in Moncton pic.twitter.com/J1aOId3Axb
— Robert (@RobertLothian_) October 29, 2021
