The New Brunswick government introduced legislation Tuesday to limit the ability of employees of private nursing homes to strike by declaring some of them essential.

"Nursing home residents are among the most fragile of our seniors in our province," Social Development Minister Mary Schryer told CBC News in Fredericton. "They require full-time care supported on an daily and even hourly basis.

"The government wants to ensure the care of seniors in nursing homes is not put at risk in any way by a disruption or break in service."

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the association representing workers, and individual nursing homes will have to determine which of their staff are deemed essential and must continue to work in the event of a work stoppage.

The move comes in the midst of a fight between the union and the government.

Gordon Black of CUPE said the government is being heavy-handed, since the union has not been threatening strike action.

The union said it signed a contract with the association on March 12, but the government stepped in and insisted both sides agree to a two-year wage freeze.

The union has filed a complaint with the Labour and Employment Board accusing the government of interfering in the collective bargaining process.