Update for January 2018 from President Danny Cavanagh
Well, we are now into 2018 and it's shaping up to be a busy one. As we know, February is African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia, and we have posted information on our website.
African Heritage Month
Did you know that Nova Scotia has over 50 historical African Nova Scotian communities, dating back over 400 years?
The 2018 theme for African Heritage Month is “Educate, Unite, Celebrate Community”. This theme honours past and present legacies of African Nova Scotians and their long legacy of uniting a passion that has provided a base to educate and celebrate an important part of Nova Scotia’s Culture and Heritage. Our Anti-Racism and Human Rights committee is working hard to help educate our members and communities and invite you to get out to events and essential activities during African Heritage Month and to visit the many Black historical sites in our province during your travels throughout the year.
African Heritage Month is an ideal time to focus on how many African Nova Scotians made a difference in their communities and helped shape our society. For more information on African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia Click here
Unifor has decided to disaffiliate from the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). By now most of the news on this is out, and of course, the Canadian Council has met. We hope that this can soon get worked out and that UNIFOR will again come into the Canadian Labour Congress. Many of your unions at a national level are active on this file, and you can check with your union to learn more. Support staff at Cape Breton University, members of CUPE 3131, voted 96 percent in favour of a strike mandate on January 29, 2018. Eight face-to-face bargaining sessions took place and, after talks broke down last week, the union applied to the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education for conciliation in contract negotiations. The two sides will meet with a conciliator on February 13, 2018.
I have been appointed to the province's Minimum Wage Committee, and to no one’s surprise, I did not agree with the province's increase of just 15 cents. Of the four on the Committee, I was the only dissenting member. We are pleased that the Minister will allow us as a Committee to look at the how the rates get implemented.I met with Ivy and Dave Shaw to talk about helping promote the Alex "Sugarcamp" MacDonald Golf Tournament. It's vital that we remember our history and past leaders and this tournament is in memory of a former NSFL Treasurer Brother Alex MacDonald. Dave and Ivy have organized this event for the past 18 years, and the proceeds have all gone to many worthy causes throughout the province. We will be looking for more unions to participate, make donations, send in teams and build on the success of the event.
We have submitted our written report to the government on pension reform which has been shared with the NSFL Executive. Any questions on that you can contact your union representative on our Executive or contact me.The CLC political action committee met recently in Ottawa, and we heard from each of the provinces on the many issues we face provincially on the labour front. We will be working with our Political Action Committee in the future on issues vital to us in NS.
The NSFL Executive met in mid-January, and it was a great meeting with many reports and lots happening.
We are now compiling a guideline that members nominated by the Federation to sit on boards and commissions will sign. I have met with our legal advisor,and they have this in the works. It will come to the Executive for approval.
NSFL Committees
We are pleased that for the first time in a long time that we received more nominations for NSFL Committees than spots to fill. The all-committee meeting was held on February 9th, and this is the first time in a long time that we have gotten off the ground with committees so quickly after the convention. Thanks to all of the affiliated unions who submitted names and we are all very pleased with how this came together quickly. Thanks also to NSGEU for hosting us and to CLC Representative Tony Tracy who facilitated the day. Canada Post has completed its review and released it to the public in January, Gordon MacDonald, the CUPW General Vice-President on our Executive had an excellent piece in the Cape Breton Post on this issue. Gordon is the president of the Breton Local 117 branch of the CUPW. Read it here
On February 13th, CUPW announced it is taking its fight for Pay Equity to arbitration. Rural and suburban mail carriers make 25% less than their urban male counterparts at Canada Post. We will be participating in the CLC’s national Phamacare meeting coming up in Halifax. They are hosting a town hall meetings featuring Canada's foremost Pharmacare experts and advocates. These critical discussions will address why we need a universal prescription drug plan that covers all Canadians, regardless of their age, income, or where they work or live. It will be held on Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at the Delta Halifax at 1990 Barrington Street, Scotia Square, Halifax, Sign up here
Womens March Sponsor: On January 20th, our Women's committee was a major sponsor of the Halifax Women's March. Women gathered and marched for a world where racial profiling, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia & other forms of violence & discrimination do not have a place in our society.
The NSFL Women’s committee is planning for the 3rd annual women’s breakfast on March 8th. Our guest speaker is human rights activist Lynn Jones.
Be sure to sign up and attend the this, the 3rd annual event. Sign up here
I met with Georgia Barnwell, Co-ordinator of Women's Centre's Connect, the Provincial Association of Women's Centres. We talked about how the Federation can work with them on current and future initiatives.
We are working on a campaign on paid leave for domestic violence victims and will be lobbying the Provincial Government for a minimum of 5 paid days.
The Nova Scotia legislature will open early on Feb 27th, 2018 . Politicians will be dealing with many issues, including education reform. Read more here
We held a meeting with staff from the Nova Scotia Department of Occupational Health and Safety on mine safety. A representative from the United Mine Workers of America was with me, and we had a great meeting,
We will also start a campaign on the new 1-800 number for people who see unsafe worksites. We will need to work with our OH&S committee on this campaign. It’s important to note that when you see an unsafe worksite that you can call the number, and that call can be confidential.
NSFL Fighting for fairness!
We have written a letter to the CEO of Tim Horton’s parent company demanding fairness for its workers. We were front and centre on the recent Tim Horton's national fight for $15. We attended the Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council rally held on January 19th.
The Cornwallis statue was removed from Cornwallis Park after the HRM regional council voted to have it taken down. We hope that the aboriginal community and the Council soon get the committee in place and that a process gets in place on recollection. Read more hereThe McNeil Liberals are trudging along and continue to make bad decisions. Closing school boards down is not the answer. Doing this will see local communities lose local public control and accountability with a centralized system, which just doesn’t work. We will be meeting with the education sector unions in early February to look at some collective actions. Read an editorial here
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The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL)
We are the Nova Scotia provincial labour organization representing some 80,000 unionized workers in our province. The NSFL was founded in 1956, and meets every two years at Convention.
The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL)
We are the Nova Scotia provincial trade union representing some 70,000 unionized workers in our province. The NSFL was founded in 1956, and meets every two years in Convention.
