Halifax Regional School Board sign

Union reaches tentative deal with Halifax Regional School Board

Support staff represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, CUPE Local 5047, is pleased to announce that the union has reached a tentative agreement with their employer, the Halifax Regional School Board, on Thursday, February 1, 2018. No further details will be released until the agreement is presented to the members of CUPE 5047. CUPE National Representative Karen MacKenzie confirmed that the deal was reached after three days of conciliation this week, with the assistance of a conciliation officer supplied by the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education. “I am proud of the work and dedication of our bargaining team and union representatives,” says CUPE 5047 President Chris Melanson. “We’re happy that the union and the employer have been able to reach an agreement,” says Melanson. “We will now present the agreement to our membership for their approval.” The union’s collective agreement expired on July 31, 2014. … Read more…

Cape Breton University

Overwhelming strike mandate for Cape Breton University workers

Support staff at Cape Breton University, members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3131, voted 96 per cent in favour of a strike mandate on January 29, 2018. Eight face-to-face bargaining sessions took place and, after talks broke down last week, the union applied to the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education for conciliation in contract negotiations. The two sides will meet with a conciliator on February 13, 2018. “When we explained our frustrations in this round of bargaining and the issues that remain on the table, the members were understandably disappointed,” says CUPE 3131 President Darren MacKinnon. “We’re looking for equality – the same things that the other CBU unions currently have in their contracts.” Outstanding issues include contracting out, job layoffs and wages. “The last thing we want is a disruption of services to students and teaching staff. However, we are prepared to back … Read more…

Member Update School Board Sector – January 24, 2018

Liberal Government’s Announcement to Move to One English School Board As I am sure all of you are aware, yesterday was the release of the Dr. Avis Glaze Report to government on the structure of the Education Sector here in Nova Scotia.  All of us were very dismayed to see her recommendation to move to 2 School Boards in this Province, one English Board and one French Board. Today we were even more disappointed by the Liberal Government’s announcement that they were accepting those recommendations and implementing the transition to one English Board immediately.  While the Liberal Government has made this announcement, they were incredibly lacking in the details, (other than they would be introducing legislation) as to how they may achieve this amalgamation and the impact it would have on you as CUPE members. CUPE has put out a press release province-wide this afternoon criticizing the Liberal Government, not … Read more…