Photo: Child care worker and two children wearing masks. CUPE NS logo.

Early childhood educators calling on Rankin government for greater protections to stay safe at work

Early childhood educators are calling on the Rankin government to make their health and safety at work a top priority during the circuit breaker and school closures currently happening in Halifax, Nova Scotia. If child care centres remain open during the current circuit breaker, additional preventative measures need be taken to reduce the risk for staff and for the children. “With the number of active COVID-19 cases on the rise, early childhood educators believe the Province has not done enough to prevent exposure in child care centres,” says CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen. “If Public Health does not recommend closing child care centres, like they did with schools, then we need the Premier and the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development to ensure that the current cohort of children attending centres now does not increase,” says CUPE 4745 President Margot Nickerson. “There is too much risk involved that … Read more…

Web banner. Photo: 2 school cafeteria workers. Image: CUPE NS logo

CUPE calling on Nova Scotia Public Health and Halifax Regional Education Centre to take additional preventative measures

With case numbers of COVID-19 escalating among school aged children and with many new variants in the province, the risk has clearly increased, says Lisa deMolitor, chairperson of the Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions, representing approximately 4,500 school support staff. However, the government has not done enough in response to reduce the risk. “The closure of schools, or families of schools, is only contemplated after the virus is present in a school. That is not a precautionary measure, nor is it the only step that could be taken to keep our schools safe. There are actions that could be implemented provincewide in the schools that are still open, to enhance safety such as: Further limiting and reducing the movement of students throughout the school Suspending activities such as gym and band, where masks are being removed Suspending sports practices and games, as students will not be wearing masks … Read more…

A message from Nan McFadgen

Dear members, friends and neighbours: This last year has been difficult and the news that COVID numbers in Nova Scotia are rising again, that many schools have closed, and that we are now facing more restrictions, is a lot to take in. I’ve been talking with many CUPE members over the last few days and I’ve been hearing how concerned they are about the case numbers. They’ve told me how worried they are about keeping themselves safe, keeping each other safe at work, and keeping their families safe. Even though things have been relatively good here in Nova Scotia, as compared to other parts of the country, we’re still in the middle of a pandemic and we’re still following all the protocols. This experience is weighing heavily on all of us. We can help each other. Check on a neighbour, call a friend, run an errand. Do the things that … Read more…