Approximately 500 correctional workers, community college custodians and human service counsellors in New Brunswick will be hitting the picket lines on Thursday.

With Canadian Union of Public Employees and the province at loggerheads over wages, members of local 1251 will begin to strike as of 4 p.m. Thursday.

The union is fighting to align its salaries more closely with similar jobs in other provinces.

In December, union members voted 90 per cent in favour of a strike.

Louis Arseneau, interim president of union local 1251, said the Liberal government talks about attracting New Brunswickers back to the province but then fails to offer fair wages.

Only 20 per cent of the correctional officers are allowed to strike because of safety issues.

Arseneau said he expects community colleges will only be able to remain open for a week without their custodians.

With files from the Canadian Press