McNeil Government blatantly ignoring lessons of other provinces, moves ahead with attack on working people

The McNeil Government is blindly moving ahead with unconstitutional, anti- worker legislation, without learning any lessons from other provinces in Canada, says the President of CUPE Nova Scotia Nan McFadgen. Today, the McNeil Government proclaimed Bill 148, the Public Services Sustainability Act, capping wage increases and freezing the long-service award as of April 2015. This will affect almost 12,000 CUPE members. Although this move by the province does not officially end bargaining or arbitration, it destroys the rights of union members to fairly negotiate their collective agreements, a constitutional right of all workers protected by the Canadian Charter of Freedoms. This is the same Liberal Government that said, in an open letter to union members in 2013, they would like to “clarify misinformation being circulated,” declaring that they “believe in the collective bargaining process, the right to strike, and protecting workers’ rights, both unionized and non-unionized.” The letter was signed … Read more…

Member Update – August 9, 2017

Dear Sisters and Brothers: As you may have heard, NSGEU met with the province this week in conciliation, in hopes of negotiating their collective agreement. That attempt appears to have failed. NSGEU will now file a request to move negotiations to interest arbitration. We think this a clear indication that the McNeil Government is not interested in bargaining and will continue to force their agenda on unionized workers in the public sector (Bill 148) –  all of this despite having a projected surplus of $150 million. We will continue to watch NSGEU’s civil service negotiations and support our locals as they continue to bargain. Your bargaining teams and staff are working hard to achieve agreements through fair collective bargaining. Please share this update with your members and contact your assigned servicing staff if you have any questions. In solidarity, Carl Crouse Acting Atlantic Regional Director

Early childhood educators say new pre-primary program is unrealistic and unsustainable

CUPE representatives are asking the McNeil Government to hit pause on the pre-primary program announced July 18 by Minister Zach Churchill, and begin consultations with parents and the people who do the work – early childhood educators (ECEs), directors of non-profit centres and other stakeholders. “We’re asking the Premier and the Minister of Education to prevent another foreseeable failure,” says Margot Nickerson, an early childhood educator and president of CUPE 4745. “Serious mistakes, with serious consequences, are being made.” “The announcement leaves many more questions than answers,” says CUPE Child Care Coordinator Naomi Stewart. “It’s hard to believe this program will succeed, when the Department cannot offer a basic analysis to show the availability of qualified ECEs in the province needed to fill these new positions.” In 2016 the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development released a plan Affordable, Quality Child Care: A Great Place to Grow! that included action items … Read more…