NB Students Return to School Monday After Province and CUPE Reach Agreement – New Brunswick | The Canadian News

Public schools in New Brunswick will reopen Monday after a two-week closure due to labor negotiations.

The provincial government and CUPE reached tentative agreements on Saturday night.

Seven local bargaining units participated. Provisional collective agreements affect more than 20,000 workers represented by CUPE in Parts I, II and III of the public service.

CUPE workers will vote in the coming weeks. The details of the agreements will not be made public until they are pending ratification.

New Brunswick Prime Minister Blaine Higgs said Sunday that he believes a tentative agreement reached with roughly 20,000 striking public sector workers is fair to employees and taxpayers.

The prime minister told reporters that both sides worked creatively to balance “competing needs” to reach a reasonable agreement and is optimistic that it will be accepted by union members.

All workers will return to their jobs while the vote is taking place. The union says all the picket lines have collapsed and all workers are in the process of returning to their jobs.

Schools switched to online learning earlier this month when public employees, including education workers such as janitors and educational assistants, went on strike.

In addition to those employed in schools, workers include highway and park maintenance workers, correctional officers, social workers, court reporters, laundry workers, patient care assistants, and hospital food and environmental service workers.

Health sector employees were sent back to work after the province issued an emergency order on November 5.

Classes at New Brunswick Community Colleges will resume Tuesday.

– With files from The Canadian Press

1:40New Brunswick government and CUPE resume talks