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CUPE Member Update: Nova Scotia Health Employees’ Pension Plan

Dear CUPE members, As you may be aware, the administrators of the Nova Scotia Health Employees’ Pension Plan (NSHEPP) have notified all plan members and unions that Accellion (the third-party secure email vendor for the pension plan) experienced a privacy breach that may have compromised personal data. An investigation was conducted, which found that it was possible for data on the plan’s server to be accessed between November 25, 2020 and January 25, 2021. Data stored on the server includes names, addresses, dates of birth, social insurance numbers, salaries, identifier numbers, dates of hire, dates of termination and dates of retirement. CUPE representatives were notified about the breach by the Stefan Colwell, CEO of the pension plan. At this time, we are satisfied that the necessary measures are being taken to secure the system and prevent further breaches. It is not certain that any personal data was accessed, but we … Read more…

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Dominion arena workers sign new collective agreement

Workers at the Dominion District Recreation Complex, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 850, have reached a new collective agreement with their employer. The new contract between the arena workers and the municipality was signed on Friday, March 5, 2021. The five-year agreement covers the term of October 1, 2019, to September 30, 2024, and includes increases to sick time and bereavement leave, as well as improved health and safety language. “We are pleased to achieve a new contract through collective bargaining, and I’d like to thank everyone involved,” said Mickey McNeil, president of CUPE 850. “We are proud to deliver quality public services in our community.” CUPE 850 represents three arena workers employed by the Municipality of Dominion. Photo: Dominion Arena via Facebook

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International Women’s Day statement

International Women’s Day has long been a day to celebrate, reflect, and work to change the inequality experienced by women in Canada and around the world. Although the United Nations recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1975, the day has been celebrated for over 100 years. Unions have a played a key role in this celebration and in resistance to gender bias and discrimination. In 2021, International Women’s Day takes on increased significance. The pandemic has spotlighted the extent to which women bear the world on their shoulders. It has had immensely disproportionate impacts on women, and especially on women who experience the world with intersecting identities. Women have suffered increased loss of economic opportunities, increased intimate partner violence and increased unpaid care work during this pandemic. And for women who are racialized, members of the LGBTQ2+ community, have disabilities, or experience other forms of oppression the impacts … Read more…