HRM Archives - Nova Scotia Advocate

Putting bad bosses on notice: No more bullying and no more discrimination, says new organization

January 26, 2018 16 Comments

Last evening’s founding meeting of Equity Watch was successful beyond her wildest expectations, Halifax writer and activist Judy Haiven tells the Nova Scotia Advocate. Equity Watch is a new organization that aims to call out public and private employers who refuse to stamp out bullying, misogyny and systemic discrimination in their workplaces. “I was very surprised, I expected maybe a handful of people, and what we got were 35 angry people ready for action.”

News release: Founding meeting of Equity Watch – to hold NS Human Rights Commission and employers like HRM to account

January 22, 2018 3 Comments

Announcing this Thursday’s founding meeting of Equity Watch, an organization that aims to keep employers like HRM and watch dogs like the NS Human Rights Commission honest.

Media release: Back Story – Liane Tessier and the Halifax Regional Fire Service

December 19, 2017

This leaflet was handed out by Liane Tessier’s supporters prior to the public apology issued to her by Halifax Fire on Monday, December 18. It is well worth a read.

Wishy washy apologies and an unpleasant email in the Liane Tessier gender discrimination case

December 18, 2017 2 Comments

After twelve years of fighting systemic gender discrimination at Halifax Fire Liane Tessier finally received an apology, but not a very good one. Hardly an hour later she received an email from a former colleague, illustrating how much more work will be required before misogyny at the workplace is finally a thing of the past.

Op-ed: NS Human Rights Commission owes firefighter Liane Tessier an apology

December 17, 2017 1 Comment

This Monday former firefighter Liane Tessier will receive a formal apology from the City for the years of systemic gender-based discrimination she was subjected to. Thanks to an entirely incompetent Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission this almost didn’t happen.

Vindicated Halifax firefighter Liane Tessier: I want the truth out there, I want to expose the structure of misogyny

December 15, 2017

We spoke with Liane Tessier, the Halifax firefighter who will on Monday receive a public apology from the city and Halifax Fire for its misogynistic treatment of her. To accept HRM’s offer to settle and apologize wasn’t an easy decision for Tessier, who hoped that the ten-day human rights tribunal scheduled for October would expose the many culprits at HRM and the Fire Department who made her life hell for all these years. Now she has documented all the ghastly details on her website.

City’s criminal record check continues to deter job seekers

August 21, 2017 1 Comment

The City of Halifax is not following up on a recommendation around criminal record checks that would remove obstacles to hiring Black and Indigenous workers in its Municipal Operations Programs (MOPS) division. The policy hasn’t really changed, and the City’s employment website is as uninviting to people with even a trivial criminal record as it has always been..

Historic Black community of Lucasville continues to fight horse farm, feels abandoned by HRM

July 11, 2017 1 Comment

We have been following the fight of Lucasville residents against a smelly horse farm in this historic Black community for several years. Here is the latest update. With HRM seemingly powerless, a review by the the Nova Scotia Farm Practices Board is the community’s next (and likely final) option. A public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday July 19.

Op-ed: Fair wages clause in Halifax tenders nothing but fluff

September 22, 2016

The City of Halifax applies a fair wage consideration when evaluating bids for services. But it’s just fluff, as the recent awarding of a parking enforcement contract shows. HRM doesn’t really care how well third party workers are paid, as long as costs are down.

Halifax outside workers rally at City Hall in defense of their pensions

September 6, 2016 1 Comment

Halifax City outside workers, members of CUPE Local 108, rallied in front of City Hall to tell the city to get back to the bargaining table, revoke a lock-out notice, and stop chipping away at their pensions. Current city proposals dealing with workers’ pensions are simply unacceptable, the union says.