Michelle Lohnes

Letter to the editor: Not Glorified Babysitters

This letter to the editor, by Michelle Lohnes, was published in the Chronicle Herald on June 16, 2018. Michelle is an early learning educator and a CUPE member. NOT GLORIFIED BABYSITTERS As an early childhood educator with over 20 years of experience, it saddens me to see what’s happening in our sector. Since the Liberals introduced the first pre-primary program last year, the message delivered to the public is that only schools provide quality early childhood education. There are numerous early learning centres across this province that have been delivering high-quality ECE programs for decades. They follow curriculum guidelines and are staffed with well-educated ECEs who have the same qualifications as their counterparts working in public schools. Recently, the deputy minister announced the need for wrap-around care for the pre-primary programs. Government officials have approached centres, asking them to provide before- and after-school care. They are calling this “book end” … Read more…

Bargaining update: Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions – June 18, 2018

The Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions completed two days of discussion on Friday, June 15. The Council of Nursing met on June 14 and 15 to prepare bargaining proposals. Over the course of the meetings, the 26-member council discussed bargaining priorities and collective agreements from all four unions (NSGEU, CUPE, Unifor and NSNU) in acute care. The team will have to review contract language for all nurses, in all categories, to reach consensus on what to preserve, what to expand upon and what compromises may be required. These inaugural meetings were very productive, but additional dates are required this summer in order to be fully prepared before exchanging proposals with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) and IWK on September 5. The Nursing Council will meet again on July 3 – 4 and August 22 – 23. The nursing unions have, over the last year or so, been surveying and talking to members … Read more…

Frontline Trip Colombia 2018

Frontline Trip Colombia 2018 – We are all Dom Tomis

The following presentation and report was made to delegates attending the 2018 CUPE Nova Scotia Convention by Donna McCarthy, member of the CUPE NS Human Rights Committee, who went to Colombia this past year to act as an observer for the work being done by Colombian unions and activists. Thank you Nan. Thank you CUPE executive board, delegates, guests, observers and staff for allowing me some of your time today. I would like to start with a thank you to CUPE National, the CUPE Global Justice Fund, CUPE NS and the CUPE NS Global Justice Committee. Without them, these trips would never happen. I am and will be forever thankful for the privilege and opportunity to go as a CUPE delegate with the Frontline initiative to Colombia. It was a life-changing experience for me. It is evident to me that CUPE is doing great work there and the Colombian people … Read more…