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…

Banner: Early Childhood Education Child Care

Nova Scotia government’s plan to re-open child care centres presents health risks to children and staff

Child care centres in Nova Scotia are re-opening on Monday, June 15 and the province’s plans are not sufficient, says the union representing more than 150 early childhood educators (ECE). While the members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3688 and Local 4745 understand the importance of providing child care and reviving the economy, they feel there are too many risks in the way that the province is handling the re- opening of centres, to both children and staff. The province’s plan indicates that children and staff will not be required to wear facemasks, and that the only time that staff will be given access to a non-surgical mask is when they are within two meters of a child who is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. “Anyone who has met a three-year-old knows that this is a ridiculous proposition, and that by the time you’re able to put on a … Read more…

Letter to the editor: Who needs childcare?

The following letter to the editor by Elizabeth Conrad, early childhood educator and member of CUPE 4745, was published in the Chronicle Herald on June 8, 2020. The Nova Scotia Centre of Education and Early Childhood Development, following the recommendation of Dr. Robert Strang, closed all public schools and licensed child-care providers in March. As the province was dealing with the COVID-19 global pandemic, the safety of all children in Nova Scotia was the top priority. As Nova Scotia begins to slowly and carefully remove restrictions, it will be a balancing act of stabilizing the economy while protecting public health. A process has been established by Public Health to carefully examine and approve revision plans for the delivery of all public services. What about parents who require childcare as the economy begins to slowly reopen? Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Strang have often discussed the reopening of childcare centres as … Read more…