Frequent contributor Judy Haiven joined the striking postal workers on the Almon Street picket line for a bit this morning. CUPW’s fight for just wages, better benefits, pay equity, safe work and against bullying in the workplace helps us all, she writes.
Poverty activist Kendall Worth interviews Kelly, who earns just a bit above minimum wage, about her fears and hopes, and how she makes ends meet.
Judy Haiven wonders why a professional licensed massage therapist here in Halifax has to rely on dumpster diving for food. Meanwhile, it appears that the clinic’s franchisee does not have that problem.
New contributor Alex Kronstein suggests that an election campaign is the perfect time to bug the candidates about the underlying social causes of our healthcare crisis. In part 1 of the series he argues that when it comes to income distribution Nova Scotia could do much better. A living wage, a $15 minimum wage, making it easier for workplaces to unionize, and a guaranteed income are all measures that could make a big difference here.
The living wage in Halifax went down in 2016, a new CCPA report suggests. But there is a good and instructive reason for that. Also in the report, a living wage for Antigonish town and municipality.
Halifax Council recently awarded a cleaning contract for the Sackville Sports Stadium to the lowest bidder, raising questions about wages paid to the outsourced janitorial staff . Prior to the municipal elections several successful candidates declared that they supported a living wage. That issue was not raised during the discussions, however.
Three good unionized jobs are lost as the National Research Council (NRC) in Halifax awards its new cleaning contract to a non-unionized company, paying minimum wage and providing no benefits. About fifty people gathered at the NRC office on Oxford Street to demand better.
“If I look back, I say wow, I am not the same person. I take pride in my job, I take pride in myself. I work hard, I work harder than I ever have for anything. It’s very overwhelming for sure. It’s a great feeling.”
A weekend video about the excellent work of Adsum for Women and Children.
A collective agreement signed earlier this week between Adsum House and its employees, members of CUPE, will ensure that all employees of Adsum for Women and Children will earn at least a living wage. This is likely a first in Nova Scotia. It’s part of a deliberate strategy, says executive director Sheri Lecker. “Sometimes you cannot wait until all pieces of the puzzle are there. This is one of those times.”