CUPE Nova Scotia

Member Update: Health Administrative Professional Bargaining Unit – September 20, 2018

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018

Following a day of mediation on September 18, 2018, mediator/arbitrator William Kaplan issued an award today which finally establishes a collective agreement for more than 3,000 employees in the Health Administrative Professional Unit at the NSHA and the IWK. The process leading to this arbitration award began following the Healthcare Bargaining Unit award and included three days of bargaining on August 21st, 22nd, and 31st and one day of mediation/arbitration. The council is made up of bargaining committee members from NSGEU and CUPE. As with the Healthcare Bargaining Unit, the parties had agreed in May 2018 that any outstanding issues would be sent to Mr. Kaplan to decide. Mr. Kaplan has issued his award completing the process and establishing new collective agreements for the Health Administrative Professional Bargaining Units. The Support Services and Nursing Bargaining Units have also begun their bargaining and Mr. Kaplan will return in November to decide … Read more…

Support for 400 school support staff as potential job action approaches at Chignecto-Central schools

September 19, 2018

The Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions (NSSBCU) is issuing a statement of solidarity with the 400 members of the CUPE Local 3890, who work at schools with the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education. “Members of the Council of Unions will stand in solidarity on the picket line with CUPE 3890 if it comes to that,” says Cindy Courtney, chairperson of the NSSBCU. “No one wants to take job action, but sometimes it’s necessary. We understand the frustrations felt by Chignecto workers. Cutbacks to staff are causing issues in every ‘education centre’ and school across the province.” Members of CUPE 3890 will take a strike vote on September 23, 2018. The strike vote will authorize the union leadership to go ahead with job action if necessary, which potentially could happen at the end of the month. “Parents and the public should be aware that by dissolving school boards and … Read more…

Contract talks fail between education support staff and Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education

September 14, 2018

Conciliation efforts have failed say representatives of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents education support staff at the Chignecto-Central Regional Centre for Education. On Thursday, September 13, CUPE Local 3890 asked the conciliation officer to file their report. Once the report is filed, a two-week countdown will be triggered to the date that the union will be in a legal strike position. Negotiations began March 2, 2018 and moved into conciliation on May 22, 2018. This has been a difficult round of bargaining, as both parties struggle to find a deal under the pressure that Bill 148, which imposed restrictions on both parties. “We are hopeful that the employer will take a very short pause and return to the table with a more reasonable approach to negotiations so that we can reach a fairly bargained settlement and avoid a strike,” says CUPE National Representative Grant Dart. Members of … Read more…