Danny Cavanagh: The headline in the NSGEU/CUPE press release reads “Dozens of hospital employees across Nova Scotia lose jobs to American-owned company just before the holidays.” This a move from a government who praises the dedication of our health care workers but is laying off the 91 employees who work in Health Information Services (HIS), scanning and archiving medical records.
91 well-paying union jobs, many in rural Nova Scotia, will disappear when the Nova Scotia Health Authority farms out its health records management to US-owned Iron Mountain. CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen is concerned how this will impact the already depressed economy in rural Nova Scotia, now stressed even further because of the pandemic. She’s also worried about entrusting an American company with personal health information.
Conciliator-led talks between the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) and the university’s Board of Governors have failed, which means that in roughly two weeks time faculty members could be walking the picket line. We talk with DFA president David Westwood to understand the issues.
Not quite a Labour Day march, but a rally earlier today in support of 10 paid sick days in Nova Scotia drew close to 100 people to downtown Halifax.
Media release: The NSGEU stands with the Nova Scotia Teacher’s Union (NSTU) in calling for improved safety in schools, plus a delayed opening, in order to ensure a safe school experience for workers and students in Nova Scotia.
Workers are worried about going back to schools that don’t offer sufficient protection against the COVID-19 virus, union leaders told reporters at a press conference this morning.
Tony Seed on the need for a full public inquiry into the Northwood deaths: “Governments give themselves arbitrary discretionary power to make all the decisions including who has the right to speak and be heard, and are negating the concerns, the experience, and the voice of the frontline workers who are protecting the people during this pandemic. No problem that society is facing can be solved in this way.”
Media release; Due to the secretive nature of the Northwood review, NSGEU President Jason MacLean has decided to not take part in the in the process.
News release: Close to 4,000 nurses across Nova Scotia say they’re tired of waiting for government and their employers to implement a pay increase they are owed.
The government’s proposed review of 53 Northwood deaths is designed to prevent workers, patients and their families, and Nova Scotians at large from speaking out and being heard publicly