We need a budget that invests in Nova Scotians, not corporations: CUPE

Nova Scotians should be upset at what ISN’T in the Liberal government’s budget, says the president of CUPE Nova Scotia, Nan McFadgen. “What we didn’t see is money to improve the resident-staff ratio in nursing homes or for new long-term-care beds,” says McFadgen. “Instead, we saw a lot of self-congratulation and corporate handouts. “The corporate tax cuts in the budget could have paid for hundreds of thousands of hospital bed-days, retrofitting thousands of homes, or educating thousands of students. Instead, that money is going to corporate profits.” McFadgen says the budget does nothing to address staffing shortages in health care, and the stress this puts on health care workers and their clients. “Premier McNeil likes to talk about spending our resources wisely, but his P3 hospital project is funneling money into corporate profits that we could be spending on staffing our hospitals and long-term-care facilities adequately,” she says. According to … Read more…

HRM outside workers vote in favour of job action

Talks have broken off between outside workers at the Halifax Regional Municipality and their employer. After 18 days of bargaining, including two days of conciliation, the members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 108 voted overwhelmingly in favour of job action on Friday, February 21. The local has been without a contract since October of 2017. CUPE National Representative Todd MacPherson says it has been a long, tough road and the union’s bargaining committee is frustrated with the employer’s lack of respect for the workers. “The employer has not been willing to address the members’ concerns over employment equity and wages,” MacPherson says. “There are still barriers in place that prevent equal access to employment and advancement for all persons, that should not exist in 2020.” MacPherson adds that the employer is asking for changes to sick time but the union is standing firm.  “CUPE 108 will not … Read more…