New collective agreement signed with CUPE Local 1253

Release

Department of Finance and Treasury Board

July 18, 2025

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1253, which represents more than 3,300 workers, have signed a new collective agreement.

The union’s membership includes school bus drivers, maintenance workers, custodians and others working in school districts across the province.

“We rely on these employees to keep our education system running smoothly each and every day, whether they are transporting students or keeping the schools clean and in good working order,” said Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy. “I want to thank the negotiators on both sides who worked diligently to reach a fair and well-deserved deal.”

The agreement includes a general wage increase of $5 per hour over four years, retroactive to April 1, 2024. Employees will receive hourly wage increases of $1 in the first year, $1.10 in the second year, $1.30 in the third year and $1.60 in the fourth year. There is also a new recruitment and retention premium.

In addition, the agreement includes increases to various allowances, an adjustment to weekend and split-shift premiums, and an increase to on-call premiums for weekends and holidays. A revision to the vacation entitlement structure will give employees greater access to vacation days, and a new bus driver classification will allow districts to hire permanent drivers and assign them by geographic location. This is meant to reduce the number of bus routes cancelled due to driver absenteeism.

All collective agreements with the provincial government are available online.

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