CUPE healthcare workers were ordered back to work through a mandatory emergency order on Friday, but today members reported they were told by their employer to go home.
“Employees reported to work, and the employer told them they were still on strike, that this mandatory order did not affect their place of employment, and they were also told that they were still following strike schedules,” said Norma Robinson, president CUPE 1252, the union representing over 9,000 healthcare workers in the province.
Robinson mentioned that this is happening in “pockets” across the province, but they are seeking out total numbers.
Robinson also said this is quite confusing and is, “totally unacceptable that they were put in this position by the government.”
Chris Curran, president of CUPE 1251, the union representing institutional care and services, said members feel they have been “cheated” from their right to strike.
“Throughout this strike, we were never contacted by anyone saying that services in the hospitals were reaching emergency levels … this order has nothing to do with COVID it’s all about taking away our right to strike.”
In terms of negotiations, CUPE New Brunswick President Stephen Drost said, “We seem to be again at a stalemate.”
He also touched on the mandatory order stating that this is just, “a tool that the government is using to interfere with the workers’ right to strike.”
When Premier Blaine Higgs and Attorney General Hugh J. Flemming announced the order on Friday, they stated affected members from Locals 1252, 1190, or 1251 who did not show up for work risked being fined.
The minimum fine is $480 and the maximum fine is $20,400 per day.
Robinson added that these fines are extremely escalated, “and again this is a slap in the face for those members who work in healthcare, and CUPE as a whole because the wages that they make would never sustain those fines.”
After CUPE members finished their press conference, the Higgs government released a statement.
The Statement mentioned, “the Regional Health Authorities are reporting no issues with employees showing up for their shifts and an overall positive morale.”
“I want to thank all the health-sector employees who have stepped up to cover for their colleagues over the past week, and welcome back our health support staff who are returning to work today and in the coming days,” added Premier Blaine Higgs in the release.
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