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Rankin should not roll the dice by reopening Nova Scotia schools this semester

The union representing workers at child care centres and all regional centres for education across the province is calling Premier Iain Rankin’s plan to reopen schools, while two regions are still under lockdown, as risky and unmanageable. CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen says, “I’m glad we’re hitting vaccine targets and children age 12 and older are now eligible for vaccination. However, the Premier has changed his plans 180 degrees from Monday to today. Why now? What is there to be gained?” “For the Province to say that schools have not been a significant source of COVID-19 transmission, well we can’t be entirely sure that is the case,” says Lisa deMolitor, chair of the Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions. “The data on active cases linked to schools that is available on the Department’s website today does not line up with the information they provided to us over the … Read more…

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…