100 Eileen Stubbs Ave., Dartmouth, NS, B3B 1Y6 | 424-4063 | 1-877-556-7438 | inquiry@nsgeu.ca
 

NSGEU President, Joan Jessome, speaks out about the need to protect NSAC members in merger with Dalhousie University

Administrative Professionals Conference


 

COMMUNITY RALLY - In Support Of Metro Transit Workers & Public Transit Services

SUNDAY January 29th at 5:00pm at Halifax Grand Parade Square (at Halifax City Hall, between Barrington & Argyle Streets)

A message from Kyle Buott, President of the Halifax-District Labour Council: As you may have heard, members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 508, the workers at Halifax Metro Transit, are being pushed into a strike by Mayor Kelly and the Halifax Regional Municipality. The Halifax transit workers will be in a legal strike position on Thursday, February 2nd. The workers and their union were presented with a demands list of over 250 concessions at the bargaining table.

Representatives from the Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council, the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress met with the Executive Committee of ATU Local 508 yesterday to discuss ways in which the broader labour movement can provide strike support solidarity both prior to and during a potential strike.

The Labour Council and ATU 508 have called a Solidarity rally for Sunday, January 29th at 5:00 pm at Halifax Grand Parade Square (in front of city hall). Please come stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in ATU!Our brothers and sisters are facing major concessions at the table and need support.

Also, in the event of a strike at Metro Transit on Thursday February 2nd, there are two rally events which have now been called by the Labour Council for that day as follows:

  • 1. (Pending Strike) Thursday, February 2nd, 7:30 am, Dartmouth Bridge Terminal - Morning Solidarity Rally

  • 2. (Pending Strike) Thursday, February 2nd, 5:00 pm, Halifax Grand Parade Square, Evening Solidarity Rally

For more information click here to visit the Amalgamated Transit Union's website.


 

Town Halls on the Future of Health Care

The Nova Scotia Citizens' Health Care Network invites you to attend a town hall meeting on the 2014 Health Accord and the future of public health care. There are four town halls: Bridgewater, Truro, Berwick and Tatamagouche. The public is invited to attend to learn more about the 2014 Health Accord and the campaign to Protect, Strengthen and Extend Medicare. Folks will also be encouraged to give their feedback on what public health care should look like in the future. MORE


 

Strike Votes underway in NSGEU’s 14 home support locals

Local 34 strike vote meeting
NSGEU President Joan Jessome speaks to members of Local 34 - Northwood Homecare during a meeting on Jan. 16 at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.

hsstrikevotesunderwayPresident Joan Jessome has been travelling from Yarmouth to Sydney holding strike votes and information sessions for home support locals that are in bargaining. “We have held five strike votes so far”, she says, “and they are all overwhelmingly in favour of a strike to support their bargaining demands.”

  • Results are as follows:
  • Local 32, Yarmouth Argyle Home Support Services voted 90% in favour
  • Local 30, Digby/Clare Home Support Agency voted 100% in favour.
  • Local 39, Inverness County Home Support Society voted 100% in favour.
  • Local 83, Northside Homemakers Service Society voted 98% in favour.
  • Local 84, Cape Breton County Homemaker Agency voted 97% in favour.

“We are hoping the employers and the government realize the seriousness of the situation and put forward their best possible offer – one that we will be able to recommend to the membership.”

All of the locals have had high voter turnouts.


 

NSGEU "Sock It To Poverty" Campaign is underway. We Are Seeking Donations of Toques, Scarves, and Mitts

SockItToPovertyLast year, NSGEU members donated more than $5,000 worth of socks, mittens, and toques to churches and charitable organizations who help people struggling through the winter in poverty.

The union's Human Rights Committee is mounting the campaign again this winter, and is looking for donations by Jan. 15, 2012.

Please contact the appropriate regional council chair for information about where to drop off donations.

Thanks in advance!

You can help spread the word about this important campaign by telling your friends and co-workers and by putting up a poster at your workplace.

Click here to download an 8.5 x 11 poster.

If you have any questions about the Campaign, please contact Rick Wiseman, NSGEU 3rd Vice President rickw@eastlink.ca

You can also contact NSGEU at 1-877-556-7438, 902-424-4063, or inquiry@nsgeu.ca


 

NSGEU members at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College need government to keep their promise

NSAC

There is a very good chance NSAC will soon merge with Dalhousie University, perhaps even in 2012. The merger will help the Agricultural College tap new and larger sources of research funding, but will also mean new collective agreements for the college’s employees, and could also mean wage and benefit clawbacks at the bargaining table will be sought by the new employer.

The NSGEU is asking government to live up to the promises it made four years ago when it set the stage for an independent NSAC. At that time, the government promised wage, benefit, and job security protections for the employees. Government must do the same again now.

We are holding information sessions in January, February and March where NSGEU senior staff will be present to answer any questions members may have.

  • Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 6-9pm, Best Western Glengarry, Salon C, 150 Willow St., Truro
  • Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 6-9pm, Best Western Glengarry, Salon C, 150 Willow St., Truro
  • Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 6-9pm, Best Western Glengarry, Salon C, 150 Willow St., Truro

For more information please click here to download our Fact Sheet.


 

NSGEU President Joan Jessome responds to DHA's announcement of job cuts to 6 areas in the health care system


 

NSGEU supports the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women

Rose

From the Canadian Labour Congress:

On December 6th, we commemorate the lives of the 14 women killed in Montréal in 1989. On this day, we remember all women and girls who are murdered or experience violence by partners, family members and strangers throughout this country. On this day, we recommit to take action against all forms of violence against women and girls in our society.

It has been more than 20 years since these 14 young women were murdered in Montréal simply because they were women.

On this day, the Canadian Labour Congress expresses our dismay in the Canadian government’s lack of meaningful action to end violence against women and girls.

The Canadian Labour Congress is appalled at the government’s untimely and disgraceful effort to weaken the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act. By abolishing the long-gun registry and destroying its database, the government is eliminating a concrete and successful measure to reduce gun violence against women – a measure created in direct response to public pressure in the wake of murders at Montréal’s École Polytechnique.

The evidence is clear. The registry has helped save lives. The rates of homicides and suicides involving rifles and shotguns are down substantially. The rate of women murdered with firearms by their intimate partner has decreased by 69 per cent.

In addition to being an effective tool to help end violence against women, the National Firearms Registry helps keep our workplaces and our communities safe. Police officers, first responders and other front-line workers rely on the information provided by the registry every day to help keep safe on the job.

Under Bill C-19, the Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle used in the Montréal murders will no longer be subject to registration requirements. By removing the ability to track these weapons, the government puts us all at risk.

On this day, we urge Canadians to send a clear message to the Members of Parliament: to listen to the evidence, to the victims and to workers affected by gun violence and maintain this important tool for workplace and community safety.

Canada’s labour movement will continue to work with allies to call on the government of Canada to consider the victims of violence and their families on this day and to follow through with concrete action. Keep the gun registry. Reinstate funding for research, policy and advocacy so organizations promoting a society free of gender violence can do their work effectively. Prevent violence not by building more prisons, but by building housing and childcare, by creating jobs and ending poverty.

Let us work together to end violence against women and girls across Canada.

For more information about this campaign, please visit www.canadianlabour.ca


 

On Behalf of NSGEU members, on Sunday, December 4, the NSGEU Executive Presented Cheques for $7,000 to Mainland Nova Scotia Christmas Daddies and $3,000 to Cape Breton Christmas Daddies

XmasDaddies

Above from L to R: Secretary-Treasurer Darren McPhee, 3rd Vice President Rick Wiseman, CTV Host Roxanne Robinson, President Joan Jessome, and 2nd Vice President Dawn Ferris present the NSGEU donation on the members behalf. (1st Vice President, Jason MacLean was unable to attend due to a prior committment.)

For the past two years, the NSGEU has forgone the usual Christmas advertising budget to donate this amount to Christmas Daddies. Christmas Daddies is a support that can be accessed throughout the province. All families on income assistance receive an application form for support from Christmas Daddies. If not on income assistance, Christmas Daddies support is accessed through either Feed Nova Scotia or the Salvation Army.

On behalf of our over 30,000 members, we are proud to be able to help support those in need at this time of year. For more information, please visit: www.christmasdaddies.org

Last year we were overwhelmed by the positive response from members and once again this year we have received many heartwarming responses. There are also those who disagree with the donation. We have included the positive and negative responses below for you to see. Thank you for letting us know what you think.

  • I am in total agreement with donating the holiday advertising budget to charity. It is a much better use of the funds. Thank you for being community minded.
  • Thank you:Previous single Mom and Food Bank user, then and occasionally now, one of the working poor, and, weekly Food Bank volunteer.
  • That's great, a much better use of the money than advertising!
  • I find myself again this year needing to express my congratulations and support for our Executive’s decision to make this donation in lieu of December’s advertising commitments. This gesture shows our concern and connection with the population of Nova Scotia, at a stressful time of year. It speaks volumes about where our unions focus really lies, which is with the families and children that our employees work for year round. Kudos to all involved.
  • Great idea!
  • Way to go!!!!!!!
  • Excellent idea.
  • Well done. Glad to see this again.
  • Well Done! Glad to see the $ helping those in need
  • Lovely idea = thanks
  • Great idea!
  • Thank you.
  • Great idea.
  • Well done.
  • Wonderful idea to donate to Christmas Daddies.
  • Great idea!
  • Wonderful Idea again this year, so happy we are able to make a difference for some people who are less fortunate than we are. This is money well spent, thank you so much!
  • Hi NSGEU, I think this is a great use of funds! Good idea.
  • I think this is a wonderful Idea. Keep up the great work and Merry Christmas to all.
  • AWESOME this idea is the best. Congrats to the NSGEU for thinking of this and making it happen. With great appreciation!
  • Great idea! Thank-you!
  • I think this is a wonderful idea!
  • Great decision thank you
  • Very nice!
  • I think this is a GREAT idea !!! Very good use of our union dues!
  • I applaud the decision to make a donation to Christmas Daddies, in lieu of paying for advertising. Much better use of our money.
  • This is so cool! Awesome!!!
  • Well done.
  • Thank You !!!!!!!!
  • Well done. Worthwhile cause.
  • Great donation.... Better than giving it to any political group or politician..
  • Awesome idea. Certainly a better use of funds than advertising at any time and especially at Christmas. I applaud you for this one!
  • Good move!
  • Fabulous idea!
  • I think the decision to donate money to Christmas Daddies in lieu of broadcasting Christmas greetings is a wise one. There are so many families in need and I think helping with that crisis is admirable. Good for you – good for us!
  • I commend you for this action.
  • I think this is a great idea!!!!
  • Great idea! Thanks for doing this on our behalf :)
  • I do not agree with the amount that NSGEU has donated to Christmas Daddies. I'm also very concerned that the no board member had any hesitations regarding this issue, not just for this year, but for 2 years in a row! I hope that next year we invest in more longer term exposure instead of having a 3 minute showcase on a fund-raising event with very limited viewership --not to mention, the whole campaign only lasts a weekend.
  • While no one would argue that this is a worthy cause I support many charities and like to make my own choices as to where my money goes. Given the lack of wage increases and the increased cost of living I would imagine that NSGEU members would have preferred a union dues deduction or at least a voice in this matter!
  • Maybe the union should ask if we want to donate $10,000 of our dollars to Christmas Daddies. I for one would not have choose that charity. I would only donate to the Salvation Army. Maybe the union should think about things a little better before they make donations with OUR money, not THEIR money!!!
  • I am all for Xmas Daddies, BUT, are we paying too much for union dues, as a lot of are struggling to get by on Clerk's salaries???
  • SO WHY NOT LOWER OUR UNION DUES, as there is a lot of wasted money by NSGEU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • What in hell are you doing? We, the members, contribute to charities of our choice. You have no right to spend our "mandatory" contributions this way. Maybe you should reduce dues, huh? Huh?, Huh?

    •  

    On Tuesday, November 29, NSGEU President Joan Jessome led a delegation of NSGEU leaders to speak in favour of Bill 102, Trade Union Act (amended) An Act to Prevent Unnecessary Labour Disruptions and Protect the Economy at Law & Amendments Committee.

    President Jessome's conclusion reads:

    • All in all, we are pleased to see Bill 102 come forward. The provisions are already in place for the vast majority of employees in Canada. It will help address a long-standing problem in labour relations in this province, namely, lengthy delays in concluding first collective agreements. It has nothing to do with increasing unionization but in creating a much more stable labour relations environment. This bill should help attract new investment and new jobs into the province. It is also an important step forward in updating and modernizing labour legislation in this province.

      • NSGEU President Joan Jessome

      Local 47 President Melissa Perry

      Local 41 1st Vice President Michelle Keeping

      Local 50 President Sam Kaiser

      Local 60A President Mike Thompson

      Local 61 Chief Steward Mark MacDonald