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Bargaining, pension plans and retiree health care will be the dominant issues. - Susie Proulx-Daigle.
Fredericton (25 Sept. 2009) - The New Brunswick Union of Public and Private Employees (NBUPPE/NUPGE) says the issues of bargaining, pension plans and retiree health care will dominate meetings of its components this fall.
"These meetings are very important," says union president Susie Proulx-Daigle.
"They provide members the opportunity to meet with their respective counterparts from around the province and hear about their issues. But more importantly, component executives rely on these meetings to gain a better understanding of what’s going on around the province," she says.
"The top three issues of concern for members remain bargaining, pension plans and retiree health care," she notes.
"As for pensions, our union continues to develop and offer pension education sessions in order to provide an in-depth understanding of what we currently have. We believe that once the members have a full understanding of their respective plans then they’ll understand what’s at risk.
"As for the retiree health care, we’re currently developing a campaign that will focus on bringing retirees together and come up with different solutions as the current option is not acceptable. We will be lobbying government as we are aware they currently have a committee looking into the matter"
Proulx-Daigle says success for individual members depends on union solidarity.
"I believe that if we work together to build strength amongst our components for the bargaining process, for the protection of our pensions which are now under attack and to improve access and quality of health care, we will make a difference. People coming together on common issues, that’s power."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE