group of school kids and teacher in classroom

Liberal government throws education sector into chaos

Today’s announcement by Minister Churchill to consolidate Nova Scotia’s seven English school boards into one, while heavy on policy change, includes no details on how the government plans to implement those changes. Nan McFadgen, President of CUPE Nova Scotia, says, “With the lack of details regarding the path to achieving this plan, the minister has created apprehension, scepticism and disarray in an education system that the Liberals allege is already dysfunctional. “CUPE looks back to 2014 and the acute care sector amalgamation established by the Health Authorities Act and the ensuing disarray and unrest created by that merger.” McFadgen continues, “With the announcement today of yet more legislative changes to create two school boards in the province, CUPE feels the same turmoil will be the ultimate outcome for the school board sector in this province. “The minister has said there will be cost savings for the province; however, he was … Read more…

Liberal commissioned report misses the mark – Local governance remains best for Nova Scotia’s education system

CUPE representatives are dismayed that recommendations for the province’s education system, by Dr. Avis Glaze, will see the McNeil Liberal government repeat the mistakes they made in health care. “We are not surprised that the McNeil Liberal government’s commissioned report falls in line with the Liberal Party’s motion at their 2016 AGM to create two provincial school boards,” says CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen. “However, from our perspective this recommendation is not one that will achieve a better education system for the Province of Nova Scotia,” says McFadgen. “We think it’s a mistake to move to a two-board system. We look back to 2014 and the acute care sector amalgamation established by the Health Authorities Act,” continues McFadgen. “The Liberal’s ‘super board’ has not worked.” “It was supposed to achieve efficiencies and stream lined processes, and therefore, better health care, accessible to everyone. The reality is communities across this … Read more…

Union applies for conciliation in bargaining with Cape Breton University

The union representing support staff at Cape Breton University in Sydney has applied to the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education for conciliation in contract negotiations that broke off on January 18, 2018. Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) National Representative Kathy MacLeod says the union hopes to meet with the conciliator as soon as possible. Outstanding issues include contracting out, job layoffs and wages. The union’s collective agreement expired March 31, 2016. At this point, no further talks are scheduled. “We are not where we hoped to be,” says CUPE 3131 President Darren MacKinnon. “We’ve had eight face-to-face bargaining sessions and we feel that we have reached an impasse. We hope that the assistance of a conciliator will help to reach an agreement.” CUPE Local 3131 represents approximately 65 members who work as administrative and support staff at Cape Breton University.