Web banner. Nursing Week 2021: Thank you to all nurses!

Nursing Week 2021: Thank you to all nurses!

Nova Scotians are grateful for all our health care workers. They’ve gone above and beyond this past year. Nursing is always challenging and stressful work and even more so during this pandemic. Thank you to all nurses for their continued courage and commitment to taking good care of our loved ones. Nova Scotia Nurses: Exceptional people. Essential care. National Nursing Week is May 10 to 16 this year. The celebrations take place during the same week as Florence Nightingale’s birthday, on May 12, each year. A digital ad (see image above) will run on the Nova Scotia Advocate news website and on Saltwire newspaper websites (Chronicle Herald, Cape Breton Post and weekly newspapers) across the province throughout the week. As well, a radio ad will run on stations province-wide. Listen to the radio ad below. Facebook profile photo frame This frame is now available on Facebook. Add it to your profile … Read more…

Early childhood educators: It’s time to put pressure on our provincial government!

To all early childhood educators working in child care centres.  We have identified for government two practical steps that are within your power to implement and each would lead to a meaningful reduction in the risk you face and the risk faced by the children in your care. Put pressure on our provincial government! Exercise your rights and responsibilities under the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act by taking the following steps. STEP 1: Report your concerns to your director The Occupational Health and Safety Act Section 17(a) lays out the steps to follow when you have concerns for your safety. We recommend that you make your complaint in writing and request a response. Copy the union in your correspondence by adding our email address cupens@cupe.ca.  You can encourage your director to pass along your concerns to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development through your consultant. STEP 2: Follow up If the concern you report is not remedied to … Read more…

Web banner. Image: Three toddlers playing with blocks. All are wearing a face mask, except one with their mask under their chin.

Open letter to Minister Mombourquette from early childhood educators

The following letter was sent to Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Derrick Mombourquette today on behalf of early childhood educators working in child care centres across Nova Scotia, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Early childhood educators are asking the minister for a smaller staff-to-children ratio, lower classroom capacity limits, defined cohorts and larger spaces, to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 within child care centres. Dear Minister Mombourquette: Early childhood educators have become a key piece to maintain essential public services in the province, especially now as we are experiencing the highest case numbers since the onset of the pandemic. Without their contributions, many essential workers would be unable to provide the services Nova Scotians must have during this time of crisis. While everyone else is required to work from home, stay out of schools, maintain masking and social distancing protocols, and reduce contact … Read more…