Web banner. Text: Safe at work. Photo: N-95 respirator

Make N-95 respirators available to all education support staff in Nova Scotia: CUPE

CUPE Nova Scotia’s School Board Council of Unions (NSSBCU), representing over 4,600 members at all public schools, is calling on the provincial government to provide properly fitted N-95 masks to all workers in school settings. “If other provinces can get them for education sector workers, why can’t Nova Scotia?” asks CUPE Nova President Nan McFadgen. “It’s the same virus in all the provinces, but education workers in Nova Scotia are expected to accept more risk?” “Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) mask guidance has changed, and we need to upgrade our protection. We cannot afford to become complacent,” adds McFadgen. With increased concern about the aerosol spread of COVID-19, the new guidance recommends that properly fitting N-95s should be worn in indoor occupational settings (in a school setting that would include buses). “We’re talking about making an investment that could save lives and protect our health care system,” says McFadgen. … Read more…

Web banner. Text: Keep staff and children safe in Nova scotia child care centres. Photo childcare worker and three children in a daycare centre.

Nova Scotia COVID-19 measures endanger children and early childhood educators

Nova Scotia Public Health and the provincial government are failing workers and children in child care centres, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing over 200 early childhood educators (ECEs) at not-for-profit and profit child care centres across the province. “We sent a letter to Minister Becky Druhan yesterday asking for N95 respirators and rapid test kits (for staff and children), and to immediately reduce capacity in each classroom,” says Margot Nickerson, early childhood educator and president of CUPE 4745. “We’re tired of being forced to ask for these things over and over and being ignored.” “We understand updated guidance is forthcoming and we are asking that capacity in child care centres be immediately reduced to no more than 50 per cent and that it be applied to each ‘classroom’, not each ‘centre’. They must stop enforcing that rule only by ‘centre’,” explains Nickerson. “While one classroom may … Read more…

CUPE 759 ratifies new contract with Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Members of CUPE 759, representing outside workers employed by the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, avoiding a lockout or strike. The union’s membership voted in favour of the new contract at meetings held today. The collective agreement must now be approved by the employer. The agreement is effective retroactively from November 1, 2020, until October 31, 2024. “We believe this is a fair deal for our members and for the public we serve,” says CUPE 759 President Kevin Ivey, who thanked the bargaining committee for their hard work and praised members for their support and solidarity. CUPE Local 759 represents approximately 300 members employed by CBRM who work in transit, public works, water and waste water management, parks and grounds maintenance, building and arena maintenance, as well as cleaning and janitorial services.