Web banner. Image Teacher talking to young student at his desk. Both are wearing face masks. CUPE NS logo.

Early childhood educators expect more details today from Province regarding plans for child care

CUPE has heard the concerns from early childhood educators who work in child care centres throughout Nova Scotia and have taken those concerns to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Yesterday, Premier Rankin and Dr. Strang announced a provincewide shutdown, but said child care centres are “essential” and would remain open and child care would be made available to essential workers. Early childhood educators are concerned about the lack of details that were missing from the announcement regarding the health and safety of staff and children in centres. “We’ve heard from many early childhood educators who work in centres and they are concerned about safety protocols, ratio limits, mixing of cohorts, wage security, and the viability of centres,” says Margot Nickerson, president of CUPE 4745, representing ECEs working in child care centres in the Halifax Regional Municipality. “After our discussions with the Department this morning concerning the issues … Read more…

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…