Our History

The Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU) is the largest union in the province of Nova Scotia and is the recognized bargaining agent for 28,000 public and private sector employees. Our members work in the civil service, school boards, universities, hospitals, liquor stores, correctional facilities, Regional Health Boards, municipalities, and other establishments across the Province. The NSGEU is an active affiliate of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL), the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC).

The founding convention was held in Halifax on April 18-19 1958. Ninety seven delegates representing 13 divisions with occupational and regional representation passed the constitution and elected their first eight member executive, managers and supervisors who would most effectively represent them.

Executive Officers

President

Joan Jessome

1st Vice-President

Jason MacLean

2nd Vice-President

Don Goss

3rd Vice-President

Dawn Ferris

Secretary/Treasurer

Darren McPhee

Board of Directors meetings for 2009 can be found in the calendar.

Board of Directors

Cape Breton

Representative: Garry Smith
Alternate: Hugh Gillis
Locals: 1, 18, 20, 33, 39, 44, 45, 46, 55, 72, 76, 80B, 83, 84, 94, 267 D & M, 470 D & 480C, 1670 & 1995

Pictou/Antigonish/Guysborough

Representative: Mike McKenzie
Alternate: Keith Torrey
Locals: 2, 14, 20, 36, 37, 44, 50, 60, 60A, 61, 71C, 72, 80B, 85, 93, 94, 267F, 470C, 480A & 1670

Valley

Representative: Elaine Jackman
Alternate: Dolores Graveline
Locals: 4, 20, 27, 31, 46, 72, 73, 80 B, 86, 91, 95, 267 A & K, 470B & 1670

South Shore

Representative: Karen Peters-Newell
Alternate: Sandra Cross
Locals: 5, 16, 20, 25,30, 32, 40, 44, 45, 46, 65, 70, 72, 74, 80B, 89, 90, 95, 267B, E & L, 470B, 480I & 1670

Metro "A"

Representative: David Lawrence
Alternate: Martin Cavanagh
Locals: 6, 19, 22, 24, 42, 43, 46, 55, 72, 78B, 267Z, 470A & E

Metro "B"

Representative: Rocky Beals
Alternate: Kelly Murphy
Locals: 8, 20, 29, 34, 38, 41, 47, 62, 63, 66, 67, 97 & 480F

Metro "C"

Representative: Gina Boyd
Alternate: Joe MacDonnell
Locals: 7, 23, 44, 45, 53, 77, 79, 80A, 80B, 81, 82, 246, & 1670

Cumberland/Colchester

Representative: Monika Harvey
Alternate: Rosaleen Smith
Locals: 3, 17, 20, 26, 35, 44, 46, 64, 71A, 71B, 72, 80B, 93, 267 C & N, 470C, 480B & 1670

Civil Service Clerical

Representative: Carol Gaudet, Anne Davis
Alternate: Thane Paris, Beth Hingley
Locals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, 16 & 17

Civil Service PR

Representative: David Brewster, Debbie Kelly
Alternate: Darrell Leeman, Sandra Mullen
Locals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 14, 16, & 17

Civil Service Technical & Services

Representative: Meg Campbell, Glen Kennedy
Alternate: David Viner, Terresa Gillis
Locals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, 16, & 17

Post Secondary Education

Representative: Cynthia Black
Alternate: Colin Sutton
Locals: 3 (EDC), 18, 45, 77, 79, 81, 82 & 267

Trade Union School Boards

Representative: Catherine Hiltz
Alternate: Patty Llewellyn
Locals: 53, 70, 71A, 71B, 71C, 72, 73, 74, 80A & 80B

Trade Union Home Support

Representative: Linda Crook
Alternate: Cathy Peori
Locals: 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 76, 83, 84 & 85

Trade Union Liquor Stores

Representative: Jim Ross
Alternate: Marty Cavanagh
Locals: 470 & 1670

Trade Union General

Representative: Claire Williams
Alternate: Lynn Hayne
Locals: 25, 26, 44, 46, 47, 50, 55, 60, 78B, 480 (all sub-locals) & 1995

Trade Union Health Care — Institutional

Representative: Leo LeFort, Adrienne LeBlanc
Alternate: Christopher Pettipas, Mabel Burke
Locals: 22, 42 & 43

Trade Union Health Care — Community

Representative: Stephanie Howell
Alternate: Tony Scott
Locals: 20, 27, 41, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 86, 93, 94 & 95

Trade Union Nursing

Representative: Karen Ferguson, Karin Harrison
Alternate: Al Enos, Martha Brown
Locals: 97

Trade Union Clerical

Representative: Carol Wilson, Wendy Williams
Alternate: Michelle Doucette, Heather Tucker
Locals: 23, 29, 38, 89, 90, 91 & 246

Trade Union Support Staff

Representative: Mike Gillis
Alternate: Peggy Lyons
Locals: 19 & 24

Committees of the Board

Provincial committees are comprised of a representative from each of the eight regions, a board member and an Executive Committee liaison. Committees fall under the direction and mandate of the Board of Directors and follow approved terms of reference.

To be considered for one of these committees, you must be elected to the Committee Pool. Elections are held within 30 days of the NSGEU Biennial Convention in accordance with the NSGEU Constitution and By-Laws. To be elected you must have attended 40 per cent of your local meetings in the twelve (12) months preceding the election. The NSGEU Executive Committee selects members from each region from the Committee Pool. The Board of Directors must then ratify the appointments. The NSGEU Board of Directors can, at any time, create ad hoc committees.

Constitution & By-Law Amendments Committee

The purpose of this committee is to deal with Constitution & By-Law Amendments that are submitted by the locals and the board to the Biennial Convention. The Committee presents these amendments to delegates at convention with their recommendations.

Resolutions Committee

The purpose of this committee is to deal with resolutions submitted by the locals, board and committees to the Biennial Convention. The committee presents these resolutions to delegates at convention with their recommendations.

Finance Committee

This committee makes recommendations regarding the fiscal responsibilities of the union. Under the direction of the chairperson, the secretary/treasurer, and the director of administrative and financial services, the committee reviews finance related policies, resolutions from convention and the budget, and makes recommendations to the board.

Health, Safety and Environment Committee

This committee promotes awareness of health, safety and the environment (HSE) issues among members; encourages education of members on HSE issues and ensures the HSE training material is kept current.

Human Rights Committee

This committee works on bringing human rights issues to the executive and board, promoting human rights in collective bargaining, and for leading the effort to educate members on human rights issues.

Political Action Committee

This committee is responsible for advising NSGEU members on the political activities of government and to lobby the government for policies that benefit our members, our families and our communities.

Education Committee

This committee reviews and makes recommendations for all scholarships and bursaries to the NSGEU Board of Directors and works with the Education Officer on the content and delivery of the NSGEU education programs.

Women's Committee

This committee deals with the issues facing women in our union face. It sponsors an annual women's conference, promotes International Women's Day (March 8), Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) and the National Day of Mourning for Victims of Violence (December 6).

Social Recreation Committee

This committee provides funding and support for union functions and events. The committee also selects amateur and fine arts awards recipients and helps organize social functions during the NSGEU's biennial convention.

For more information on NSGEU's provincial committees, please contact the NSGEU Labour Resource Centre (LRC). The LRC can be reached by phoning 424.4063 or toll-free 1.877.556.7438 or by email, Labour Resource Centre