Crown counsel lawyers in New Brunswick have ratified a five-year collective agreement that brings their salaries in line with Crown prosecutors, ending a long-standing pay gap and averting a potential strike.
The deal, reached between the Crown Counsel Group and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), is retroactive to 2023 and runs through 2028. According to PIPSC, the agreement delivers pay parity with prosecutors and addresses what the union described as a compensation crisis that drove up the province’s reliance on private law firms.
Union hails major victory
“This deal validates what we’ve been saying all along – Crown Counsel deserve the same compensation as their prosecutor colleagues,” said Eric Boucher, president of the New Brunswick Crown Counsel Group. He said 95 per cent strike support “sent a clear message that our members were united and serious about achieving fairness.”
The agreement meets three of the union’s four pay proposals, most notably closing wage gaps that had ranged from 29 per cent at senior levels to 49 per cent for junior lawyers. Both groups hold identical qualifications and responsibilities, the union said.
Conciliation process favoured union
Talks gained momentum after conciliation meetings in July, where an independent conciliator’s report backed the union’s position. The final agreement includes adjustments to the wage grid and market rates that reflect the value of Crown counsel’s work.
“The conciliation process confirmed what we knew – our position was reasonable and necessary,” said PIPSC president Sean O’Reilly. “This agreement demonstrates that when workers stand together with rock-solid solidarity, meaningful change is possible.”
PIPSC pointed to provincial spending on private firms, which it said doubled from $4.1 million in 2019–20 to $8.6 million in 2024–25. Rates reached up to $500 per hour. The union said retaining Crown counsel through fair pay will help reduce reliance on outside legal services and generate savings.
Role of Crown counsel
New Brunswick Crown counsel advise government departments and Crown corporations, defend against lawsuits and grievances, appear in arbitrations, negotiate and draft contracts, and prepare legislation and regulations.
“Without our members’ unwavering commitment to fair compensation, this result would not have been possible,” Boucher said. “This agreement protects both our members and the public interest by ensuring the government has the legal capacity it needs.”
The five-year agreement provides stability and positions the province as a competitive employer for legal professionals, the union said.
