The spirited banter has resumed in the provincial legislature with the opposition parties talking about the nursing home dispute.
Green Party leader David Coon finds it appalling that negotiations with the CUPE team lasted only 128 minutes spread over five meetings since last March.
“It’s become clear that an agreement cannot be found at the bargaining table so it’s time for the Premier to end his resistance to binding arbitration.”
Coon says for the sake of nursing home workers, residents and their families this dispute must be resolved.
During Question Period, Miramichi Bay-Neguac Liberal MLA Lisa Harris asked Post Secondary Training and Labour Minister Trevor Holder why he didn’t speak with CUPE members outside his office and why he called the police.
“I can assure the member opposite I did not call the police. The police showed up Mr. Speaker. There was no phone call from my office whatsoever.” Holder responded.
Lisa Harris also told Minister Holder the government is torturing seniors by not offering something to these unions.
“It’s time for you to stand up and show you actually care about New Brunswick and what are you going to do about it”. Harris said.
Holder said as Minister of Labour he has to maintain a level of neutrality but, he has made mediation teams available.
“Mr. Speaker, what I care about as Minister of Labour is that there is a fair collective bargaining process in place.” Holder said.
