Louise Riley

CUPE to pursue 12% wage increase awarded to LPNs who worked at former Capital Health locations

CUPE Nova Scotia is pleased that Arbitrator Lorraine Lafferty issued a consent award yesterday to licensed practical nurses (LPN) who are members of NSGEU and will now pursue the same award for members of the Canadian Union of Employees (CUPE). “CUPE fully intends to ensure that our members receive wage parity,” says Louise Riley, chairperson of the CUPE NS Long Term Care Coordinating Committee. “We have written to the Minister of Health and Wellness and the Health Authority, advocating for all LPNs to receive the award, regardless of their sector or their location.” Effective June 15, 2020, this award concludes a classification review of the LPNs who work in former CDHA positions represented by the Nova Scotia General Employees Union (NSGEU). The wage increase is retroactive for any hours worked back to March 17, 2014. LPNs eligible for the award, who were enrolled in CDHA pension plans since 2014, will … Read more…

Member update on health care bargaining

Member Update: CUPE 8920 – Acute Care

A message from Bev Strachan, president of CUPE 8920 The Nova Scotia Health Authority and NSGEU have come to an agreement as a result of an outstanding LPN classification grievance in the former Capital District Health Authority (CDHA). Congratulations to NSGEU and their LPNs at the former CDHA on this achievement. In 2014, the former CDHA NSGEU Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) filed a substantial change appeal. At that time, the NSGEU had language in their collective agreement that allowed for a review to take place as per the joint job evaluation process. CUPE did not have the same language or mechanism at that time. In December 2017, the matter was heard by an arbitrator, and subsequently in a mediation arbitration on June 10 & 11, 2020. The negotiated agreement, known as a consent award, was negotiated by NSHA and NSGEU, with a decision imposed by an arbitrator. The outcome of … Read more…

Manitoba Law Courts

Legislation ruled a violation of workers’ right to collective bargaining: CUPE Nova Scotia applauds court ruling in Manitoba

Members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Nova Scotia Division are encouraged by a ruling made last week by Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Justice McKelvey, who announced that the Public Services Sustainability Act in that province is unconstitutional. “The Manitoba Act was modelled on a similar piece of legislation, Bill 148, by the McNeil Liberals in Nova Scotia,” says CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen. “This is a significant win for unions in our province as well.” In 2017, the Nova Scotia government proclaimed Bill 148, also named the Public Services Sustainability Act, freezing and setting limits on wage increases, imposing the term of collective agreements and putting an end to long service awards. Nova Scotia unions assert that Bill 148 is unconstitutional and has seriously impaired the prospect of fair collective bargaining. A coalition of Nova Scotia unions – made up of CUPE, NSGEU, NSNU, SEIU, … Read more…