Last week, the New Brunswick Crown Counsel Group participated in mediation with the Government of New Brunswick, aiming to address critical issues of pay and pay parity. Unfortunately, mediation was unsuccessful, marking yet another missed opportunity to find common ground with the employer.
The Bargaining team is reassessing the situation and are preparing to file a request for a conciliation board.
Historically, our members have maintained pay parity with Crown Prosecutors in New Brunswick, reflecting the comparable responsibilities and expertise required by both roles. However, we currently face a wage disparity of approximately 25%, significantly impacting our ability to retain and recruit experienced legal professionals. The recent commitment to add five more lawyers to Legal Services, while welcome in principle, will only compound recruitment issues if we do not receive pay parity. Without addressing this, we will not attract talent and risk losing the talent we have.
While we appreciate the government's commitment to fiscal responsibility, skimping on in-house counsel will be counterproductive and only lead to more outsourcing. Investing in our internal resources would not only reduce costs in the long term but also strengthen the stability and effectiveness of our public legal services.
Premier Susan Holt previously expressed strong opposition to outsourcing public services while in opposition and has recently taken steps to curb this practice. We now call upon her government to demonstrate consistency by aligning these actions with fair wages for our members.
Our goal is clear: we seek fair solutions that benefit all New Brunswickers. We urge the government to act responsibly and invest in the strength and stability of our public service.
Thank you,
Eric Boucher
President, New Brunswick Crown Counsel Group - PIPSC