New Brunswick Federation of Labour holds 56th convention in Saint John

Workers in New Brunswick's public and private sectors travelled to Saint John for the 56th Bi-Annual Federation of Labour Convention.

Delegates representing over 40,000 New Brunswick workers in both the public and private sector have travelled to Saint John for the 56th New Brunswick Federation of Labour (NBFL) convention.

 With a theme of “Workers United for a Beter Tomorrow,” the biannual three-day meetup aims to tackle issues facing workers in the province. The work done at the conference will set the agenda for the NBFL until the next convention in two years.

“One of the things that makes the Federation unique is when you get the different perspectives of the private and public sector,” says NBFL interim president Chris Watson.

“You get different perspectives, but we all really come together for a common goal and that’s to address workers issues and push forward labor as a united front.”

Over 20 resolutions will be debated and voted upon by the end of the convention. Some of the top issues being discussed include the pending potential Canada Post strike, the impact of a recently elected Liberal government in New Brunswick, and the ripple effects of the on-going trade war with the U.S.

When it comes to tariff talk, Watson says the conversation is centred around breaking down interprovincial trade barriers. He wants to ensure it is done in a way that protects the health and safety of workers.

“Worker safety is ultimately number one,” Watson says. “And when we’re talking about this sort of stuff, we need to make sure that we’re not in a race to get these sorts of deals done.”

He hopes delegates leave the convention with a feeling of hope, which is reflected in the convention’s theme.

The NBFL includes 16 affiliated unions, 282 locals, and six district labour councils. It is the largest central labour body in the province.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.