Member Services

Collective Agreements & Negotiations

We are a member-driven organization focused on meeting the work-life needs of nurses in New Brunswick. The Union supports its members by negotiating collective agreements with employers. Negotiating a collective agreement protects the rights of members, individually and collectively, and is an important part of how we advocate for our members. All NBNU Collective Agreements are negotiated based on the sector of nursing.

Collective bargaining is the process in which union members negotiate contracts with their employers to determine their terms of employment, including pay, benefits, hours, leave, safety policies, ways to balance work and family and more.

Throughout our history, we negotiated many collective agreements with each being a step toward a better life for nurses and their patients, clients and residents.

Please click on the corresponding sector to view your Collective Agreement.

The NBNU Negotiations team

The NBNU Negotiations team comprises Paula Doucet, President and Matt Hiltz and Chief Negotiator.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bishop’s University, a Law degree from UNB and is a member of the Law Society of New Brunswick, the Canadian Bar Association, and the Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers.  He has worked in a number of roles since graduating with these degrees, including but not limited to facilitator, lawyer, labour relations officer and currently as the Executive Director and Chief Negotiating Officer at NBNU since 2015.

Paula is the President of NBNU since 2016 and has been an RN for 27 years. Prior to being elected President, she held the position of Vice-President for 13 years. Paula worked at the Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst for close to 20 years before becoming the full-time President of NBNU. Paula has participated on many negotiating teams over the years and has an extensive knowledge of the collective agreement and its workings.

Both Paula and Matt have successfully led negotiations with the employers for the last two contract negotiations, and are ready to work on your behalf again in 2024 around the negotiating tables.