The New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions filed an official complaint on Thursday to the Superintendent of Pensions.
The Council announced it has initiated legal proceedings to enforce pension law and protect nursing home workers’ pensions.
President Sharon Teare says the government is breaking legal obligations that would guarantee a viable pension plan for around 8,000 current and retired workers,
“As of this morning, CUPE filed a formal complaint to Angela Mazerolle asking her to intervene as the province is deliberately underfunding nursing home workers’ defined benefit pension plan,” said Teare.
In the 25-page legal complaint, the Council says the government has not done its basic due diligence over the years. They claim the government has ignored multiple calls by workers to adjust contribution levels, and the plan deficit has now reached $112 million.
“I would like the question asked to Higgs: what is it that he dislikes so much about nursing home workers that he is not willing to sit down to discuss improvements and recommendations that would sustain a defined benefit plan?” said Teare. “The Higgs government is manufacturing a pension crisis in nursing homes to justify benefit cuts. I will take every effort to ensure that the pension plan for our members is protected and is there as promised.”
