Over the past few days, the union, the employer and the affected members have met. The affected members in both the Specialized Health Care Professionals and Paramedical groups have received their notices. Our labour relations officers are now working with the members to determine the next steps and what options they have at their disposal for potential other positions and opportunities.

Commentary-Telegraph Journal p.A7

Gordon Black Marilyn Quinn & Susie Proulx Daigle

30 Apr 2013

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, the New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees and the New Brunswick Nurses Union represent 45,000 public sector employees working for provincial and municipal governments. In 2012, we agreed to the conversion of the two pension plans covering employees of the regional health authorities to the new shared risk model. Earlier this year, CUPE locals agreed to the conversion of plans for the cities of Saint John and Fredericton. Currently, we are in discussions with other public sector unions and the Task Force on Protecting Public Pensions on proposals to convert the civil service to the shared risk plan. These discussions are ongoing, but given the debate in the province today concerning the potential impact the new pension model could have on retirees, we felt it was important to make our views known.

I would like to invite you to have a conversation with me, NBU President, Susie Proulx-Daigle. I am currently touring the Province to discuss Pensions and the current Bargaining Environment.

Join me at the following locations;

 NBU has been advised by both the Horizon Health Network and the Vitalité Health Network that there will be layoffs within the Paramedical and Specialized Health Care Professionals groups. Unfortunately, we were not given any specifics as to how many of our members may be affected, but we understand that detailed information is essential in these situations.