FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government signed a collective agreement today with Local 1252 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

With this announcement, the government has now reached a collective agreement with each of the 25 separate bargaining groups across the provincial government over the past three years. The 25 bargaining groups represent about 40,000 employees.

Today’s agreement includes more than 9,300 people working at regional health authorities and Ambulance New Brunswick, including licensed practical nurses, patient care attendants, tradespersons, paramedics, food service workers, environmental services workers and administrative support employees. It is the largest bargaining unit within the provincial government.

“I thank the two negotiating teams for reaching this agreement,” said Treasury Board President Roger Melanson. “Your government is working to foster a proud, productive and professional public service, and this agreement illustrates our commitment to ensuring that the government treats its employees with fairness by respecting the collective bargaining process.”