Hundreds of NB Liquor employees are taking part in strike votes this week across the province.
This follows a deadlock declaration made by the Labour Board in early October.
“If the members vote for strike action, Local 963 will be joining the current picket line with the other 20,000 CUPE members on strike,” said Jamie Agnew, President of CUPE Local 963.
“Wages that go above the cost of living are at the heart of matter here too,” said Agnew. “Whether in retail or at the warehouse, our members have been going full tilt since the pandemic started, delivering record sales. They deserve a fair deal,” he added.
The union cited record sales during 2020-21 of more than $500 million with a net income of nearly $200 million.
Bargaining with the province began in March 2019 and although a deal was reached in September 2020, Premier Blaine Higgs blocked ratification and introduced a wage freeze.
The two sides returned to the bargaining table more recently but reached an impasse.
The 600 CUPE Local 963 members work in the 41 publicly run and owned NB Liquor retail outlets (not agency stores) and the Crown Corporation’s warehouses.
