Nan McFadgen, CUPE NS president

Nan McFadgen: Underfunding brings Nova Scotia’s childcare system to brink of collapse

The following letter to the editor by CUPE NS President Nan McFadgen was published by the Chronicle Herald on June 19, 2020.  The Nova Scotia government announced to the citizens of this province that it would ensure childcare centres and family day homes would be available when the economy was ready to reopen. While this decision may have seemed altruistic, it has become clear to most people that if the premier wanted to reopen the economy, he had no other choice. An economy without quality, public, dependable and affordable childcare is an economy in trouble. Unfortunately, the childcare system we have in Nova Scotia is extremely fragile and poorly funded. In his public briefings, the premier has implied that his government has been providing childcare centres with everything they need to get them through this unprecedented time. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true. The premier’s words made families believe that … Read more…

Empty child care classroom

Child care sector in Nova Scotia on brink of collapse

Child care centres across Nova Scotia are now facing a funding crisis that threatens to undermine the viability of the entire sector. Premier McNeil told families that their child care spots would be held for them once the economy reopened. However, his government has committed to only funding half of those spots leaving child care centres to foot the bill for any spots that they cannot fill. “We are hearing from workers across the province that many centres have already issued layoff notices, and that not many expect they will be able to secure enough children to balance their books before September,” says Margot Nickerson, president of the Early Childhood Educators of Nova Scotia and CUPE 4745. “Our child care centres need the government to show leadership and take action today.” According to data from a recent survey with more than 300 child care centre representatives responding, Nova Scotia centres … Read more…

Nurse holding clipboard

LPN reclassification – joint statement from health care unions

To the LPN members of CUPE, NSNU, NSGEU, and Unifor On June 15, 2020, Arbitrator Lorraine Lafferty issued a Consent Award granting an increase of 12% to the pay rates for LPNs represented by the NSGEU at the former Capital District Health Authority. The increase is retroactive to March 17, 2014. The Consent Award does not apply to: LPNs represented by any other union in Nova Scotia, or LPNs represented by the NSGEU with employers other than the former CDHA. The Consent Award was the culmination of a Review Process initiated by the NSGEU on March 17, 2014. The Review Process and subsequent grievance were pursued on behalf of LPNs who were employed by the former Capital District Health Authority. For that reason, the Consent Award only applies to LPNs from the former CDHA represented by the NSGEU. The Review Process was part of a special provision in the NSGEU … Read more…