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…

CUPE welcomes new members at Grand View Manor, Berwick

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is pleased to welcome our newest members, the employees of Grand View Manor in Berwick, Nova Scotia. Votes were counted by the Nova Scotia Labour Board today and CUPE is happy to welcome this newly certified local. “We are pleased to welcome the new members of CUPE Local 5183, Grand View Manor, and we will work hard to represent them,” says CUPE National Representative Grant Dart. CUPE now represents just over 200 members at Grand View Manor, a long term care and community services facility. The new local at Grand View Manor represents members who work as licensed practical nurses, continuing care assistants and health care aides, as well as staff in dietary, payroll, scheduling, environmental services, laundry, housekeeping and maintenance. In addition to the new members at Grandview Manor, CUPE represents more than 3,200 long term care workers in communities across Nova … Read more…