Member update on health care bargaining

Member update on health care bargaining – February 15, 2018

The Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions, NSHA, and IWK just completed six days of conciliation. The parties have agreed to another 11 days of bargaining over the course of the next few months. Bargaining in January and February produced some steady progress. But, the Employers also tabled some significant takeaways. The Employers made a brand-new proposal that would allow them to transfer employees anywhere they wished in the province. The Employers argued that these staff transfers could be temporary or permanent. After more than a year of bargaining, the Employers tabled their sick leave proposal. The Employers proposed placing all members of the bargaining unit into an Accumulated Sick Leave plan. This would mean taking the Short-Term illness plan from the NSGEU members who currently have it.  The Council of Unions has proposed moving all bargaining unit members into the Short-Term Illness plan with an MOA designed to … Read more…

Classroom desks: School board support staff voice concerns about restructuring of the Nova Scotia education system

School board support staff voice concerns about restructuring of the Nova Scotia education system

“Support staff in schools across Nova Scotia are concerned that restructuring school boards will create unstable labour relations, much like what we’ve seen happen to our health care system,” says Nan McFadgen, president of CUPE Nova Scotia. “They feel this will also negatively impact quality of education for students.” “Any restructuring will create massive disruption to our education system – not just for teachers, but also for education assistants, secretaries, bus drivers, custodians, mechanics, librarians, community outreach workers, as well as many other hard working and vital front line school board workers,” says McFadgen. As the Nova Scotia education system is restructured, the “entire” sector is going to be struggling to figure out what this new education system and sector of work looks like. “It should be noted that the government is silent on labour relations issues. With several of our locals currently engaged in collective bargaining, this restructuring creates … Read more…

Halifax Regional School Board sign

Support staff at Halifax Regional School Board ratify contract

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 5047 is pleased to announce that members voted 96% in favour of ratifying a collective agreement in meetings that took place February 10 and 11, 2018. CUPE 5047 represents school board support staff at the Halifax Regional School Board. “It’s our understanding that the school board will hold their ratification meeting at the end of the month, however, we don’t anticipate any delays in finalizing the agreement,” says CUPE National Representative Karen MacKenzie. The agreement addresses issues of importance to CUPE members including changes to the job postings process, lay off protection, seniority with school closures, and protection for library workers/volunteers. “The members understood what our bargaining committee faced at the bargaining table in the shadow of Bill 148, says MacKenzie. “However, our members remain committed to delivering quality public services and we will continue to work to protect collective bargaining rights.” “I … Read more…