McNeil government fails to ask people living in Cape Breton how they want their public health care services delivered

“Mounting public pressure on the McNeil government to address the health care crisis in Nova Scotia seems to be the main reason for today’s announcement,” says CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen. “We welcome the improvements to be made to the hospital; however, the Liberals were clearly in a rush to make their announcement,” says McFadgen. “We are deeply disappointed that Minister Delorey and others on the redevelopment team refused to answer questions from the public.” The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents workers in acute care, long-term care and home support, says the province refuses to hear the voices of Cape Breton. “People residing in Cape Breton lost their voice with the demise of the Cape Breton Health Authority. Since then, health care decision-making has been centralized in Halifax,” says McFadgen. “If the new structure is to work, local voices must be heard.” “Also, the McNeil government … Read more…

Bargaining Forward: new ads from workers at Halifax Water

The members of CUPE 227, municipal workers with Halifax Water, launched a new radio ad today, as well as print and social media ads. The union is calling on the Board of Directors of the Halifax Water Commission to help avoid disruption to services by reaching a new collective agreement. Listen to the radio ad On March 28, the board of the Halifax Water Commission has the opportunity to complete negotiations with the workers who provide clean, safe drinking water and wastewater treatment for Halifax residents. The members of CUPE 227 are dedicated to making sure your drinking water is superb and your wastewater is responsibly treated. We’re calling on the board to help us avoid a disruption to services by reaching a new contract with our members. A message from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 227. Print and social media ads Also, this print ad can be seen in … Read more…

Address the cause, not the symptoms of overcrowding in hospitals: CUPE Nova Scotia

CUPE Nova Scotia, the union representing long term care workers and acute care workers across the province, says the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) needs to address the “cause” of the overcrowding in Nova Scotia’s hospitals, not the “symptoms”. “Last week, the NSHA tried to force long term care facilities to solve the problem of overcrowding in hospitals. In doing so, they failed to acknowledge that overcrowding and slow transition of patients from hospitals back to long term care are symptoms of a larger problem,” says CUPE Nova President Nan McFadgen. “Acute care is overburdened because long term care in Nova Scotia is under-resourced,” says Louise Riley, chairperson of CUPE NS’s long term care coordinating committee. “The McNeil government must treat the cause of the problem. We need more staff and more beds in long term care facilities. Full stop.” “We know that about 20 per cent of acute care … Read more…