Louise Riley

Rebuild long-term care in Nova Scotia with qualified staff and a minimum 4.1 hours of care

CUPE Nova Scotia is calling on the McNeil government to immediately increase funding to all publicly-funded long-term care facilities, so they reach a minimum staff funding of 4.1 hours of care per resident each day. “Many of our members are telling us that, on average, they have less than ten minutes to get each resident ready for the day,” says Louise Riley, chair of the CUPE NS Long Term Care Coordinating Committee. “Let that sink in. Ten minutes or less. How many able-bodied adults do you know that can get themselves ready for the day in that amount of time?” CUPE is specifically calling for an immediate staffing increase, supported by new funding to the health authority that includes: Recruitment of more continuing care assistants, and other members of the care team Reinstatement of the financial support for CCA program students at a Nova Scotia public institution (cancelled in 2013) … Read more…

Special event January 30 – Child care and early learning panel discussion

Please join early childhood educators, advocates and experts for a panel discussion the evening of January 30, 2019, hosted by CUPE Nova Scotia. Child Care for All: Building a High Quality, Sustainable Early Learning and Child Care System The discussion will cover the challenges early childhood educators are facing in the child care sector. The highlight of the evening will be a presentation of a new report based on the findings of an online survey of ECEs and employers, Unappreciated and underpaid: Early Childhood Educators in Nova Scotia by the Canadian Centre Policy Alternatives – Nova Scotia (CCPA-NS). DATE: 6:30 to 8 p.m., January 30, 2019 LOCATION: CUPE Atlantic Regional Office, 271 Brownlow Avenue, Dartmouth (parking around back of building) WATCH ONLINE: Live on Facebook at facebook.com/cupenovascotia. Some of the topics to be discussed will include: Everyday challenges ECEs face in providing high-quality child care Factors that contribute to employers’ … Read more…

Tentative agreement reached for CUPE long term care workers in Nova Scotia

The CUPE Nova Scotia Long Term Care Coordinating Committee is pleased to announce that a tentative agreement has been reached with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness. “Details of the agreement will be presented to CUPE members at meetings to take place across the province the week of February 10 to 14, 2019. A schedule of meeting dates and locations is available on CUPE Nova Scotia website,” says CUPE National Representative Kathy MacLeod. No further details will be released until the agreement is presented to the membership. CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen says, “We congratulate the Long Term Care Coordinating Committee in the completion of provincial bargaining. We want to thank them for their work on behalf of the 49 CUPE nursing homes. It is our hope that government will focus on improving the working conditions for our members, as well as living conditions for residents.” “This … Read more…