Public Service Alliance of Canada - Atlantic Region

Nova Scotia

Newfoundland & Labrador

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Nova Scotia Region

News

September 18, 2009

PSAC, supported by over 130 National Component members from across Canada, rallied in Dartmouth in protest of the federal government's decision to eliminate the Labour Affairs Officer Health & Safety position from Cape Breton and Eastern Nova Scotia.

September 8, 2009

Tentative Agreement ratified by the PSAC members Local 84200 who work for ECBC

Details (Word)(PDF)

August 27, 2009

Labour Day March & Picnic

Details

August 27, 2009

Labour Affairs Officer's Position for Eastern Nova Scotia and Cape Breton

Letter to the Minister

by Joseph Parris, President, Cape Breton Regional Area Council, PSAC

(Word)(pdf)

August 26, 2009

Labour Affairs Officers Vital to Safe Federal Workplaces

Letter by Jeannie Baldwin in Chronicle Herald

August 24, 2009

Nova Scotia Campaign School for Women

The Nuts and Bolts of Running for Office

(No Fee)

October 16-18, 2009

Mount Saint Vincent University

(Details)

August 21, 2009

Friends of Transition Houses

Can you live on a budget set in 1996 when gas was 56 cents/litre?

Transition Houses in NS have been operating on budgets set in 1996 – 13 years without an increase. Yet, all household expenses have increased over the years. Women and children fleeing domestic abuse are the users of the services Transition Houses provide. Social services are the foundation of a just society. We are requesting the government to increase funding in the upcoming budget and to commit to stable funding in the future. Patience doesn’t pay the bills.

Speak to a NS NDP MLA and make your voice heard!

Contact Lori Walton at loriwalton@eastlink.ca or call 902.219.0349 for more information

Sign-up Sheet

(Word)(pdf)

Information Meeting

September 3, 2009 - 7:00 p.m.

Halifax North Memorial Library

(Word)(pdf)

July 24, 2009

The Cape Breton Dragon Boat Festival (Word) (PDF)

Sydney - July 17 & 18, 2009

July 23, 2009

Summer Student - Halifax Regional Office

André Cain

July 22, 2009

Commissionaires at Halifax Stanfield International Airport Ratify First Collective Agreement

(Word) (PDF)

July 21, 2009

The Atlantic Jazz Festival Report (Word) (PDF)

Halifax - July 11, 2009

July 8, 2009

Article: The Chronicle Herald - OPINION

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

By Sheila Davis, President of PSAC Local 80022

Here's hoping NDP cast fresh eye on social services in Nova Scotia

(Word) (PDF)

July 2, 2009

Article: The Chronicle Herald - OPINION

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Signing contract shouldn’t be so hard

By Jeannie Baldwin

It’s time to shed some light on a large Nova Scotia employer and the shameful way it is treating one group of unionized workers, the 183 people who provide security and ground transportation services at the Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport.

The workforce includes many men and women who have served their country in the Canadian Forces, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and municipal police forces. They are members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and are trying to negotiate their first collective agreement. They are part of the team responsible for the airport authority winning passenger satisfaction awards six years in a row. Our members contribute to this airport being one of the best-run in the world.

The employer is the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, one of 17 divisions of a national, non-profit organization founded in 1925 to provide employment to veterans of the uniformed services. This praiseworthy purpose is recognized by the federal government, which gives the corps preference over private companies in the security and protection business. The corps is now one of the leaders in a growing industry, handling contracts worth tens of millions of dollars. The Nova Scotia division is run by a paid executive and a voluntary board, heavily weighted with retired career military and reserve officers.

Special advantages have been granted the corps as an acknowledgement of its role in assisting those who have served their country in uniform to make the transition to civilian life. What has been difficult for workers at the Halifax airport to accept is that the employer seems to believe former uniformed service people should be so grateful for their low-paying jobs that they will work for less than what is guaranteed any citizen covered by the Canada Labour Code. The airport workers want the basic overtime and paid holiday provisions that the code provides.

The employer seems to expect that former police and service members should abide by an outdated notion of military discipline, applied inappropriately in their workplace. Men and women who served their country, protecting and defending the rights of others, are not suddenly willing to forgo their own rights as workers, including the right to a fair hearing in disciplinary matters. Members of the Canadian Forces can appeal to an independent arm’s-length grievance board, while airport workers have no such option. The Corps of Commissionaires unilaterally removes workers from their duties without just cause and without putting anything in writing.

Even more galling is the notion that because some of our members receive military or police pensions, they are somehow less entitled to a fair wage for their labour. These jobs are not "gravy" to our pensioned members, who are working because they need to work. We have others in the workplace not receiving pensions and trying to support families on rates of pay between $11 and $16 an hour.

The cost of the security service provided at Halifax International Airport should not be subsidized by our members. The corps has a bidding edge over private companies, but its competitiveness should not be dependent on keeping our members at near minimum-wage rates.

The pattern for this unfair treatment has been seen all over Canada: the Corps of Commissionaires has a record of obstructing union certification by workers for years and, after certification is achieved, of causing contract negotiations to drag on interminably. The effort to achieve a first contract for Halifax airport workers follows a similar struggle with the corps at Toronto airport. Our members know what they are up against — they just can’t see any good reason for the intransigence.

Could it be that a board stacked with former military and police officers doesn’t "get" what’s happening here? Our members are not before them, cap in hand, subservient and deferring to the higher ranks. In the union-management world, we are at the table as equals, asking for respect and a fair deal.

The corps’ board of governors and executives may feel they are shielded from public scrutiny or criticism because of their honourable mission — providing employment to former service members. Our members say it would be far more honourable to accept that workers have a right to negotiate a contract and, at the bare minimum, to receive what the law provides under the Canada Labour Code. With what our workers are asking, it shouldn’t be this hard to get a first collective agreement.

Jeannie Baldwin, Regional Executive Vice-President (Atlantic),

Public Service Alliance of Canada

June 18, 2009

Rev. Jesse Jackson Dinner

Sister Deborah Morrision, USGE Halifax Local VP with Rev. Jesse Jackson

June 10, 2009

Save Our Farms

Canadians need a safe, secure and sustainable food supply.

Please check out the link below and sign the petition.

http://www.saveourfarms.ca

June 9, 2009

UCTE LOCAL 80829 - HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

HAVE A UNION NEWSLETTER (Click here)

THE SIGNING OF THE 2008 - 2012 COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

WITH THE HALIFAX INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND THE PSAC/UCTE 80829

June 1, 2009

Attention PSAC Members:

Give 2 hours of your time and be entered in our Better Choices Contest

We are looking for Volunteers in the Halifax area to help call Nova Scotia PSAC Members as part of the Canadian Labour Congress/PSAC Better Choices Campaign. We are asking members to give 2 to 3 hours of your time (afternoons or evenings) to call fellow PSAC members and inform them of the issues that you identified are important to labour. For every 2 hours you volunteer, you will have your name entered into a draw for PSAC prizes. The last day for entries will be June 8th, with the draw to be made on June 9th, 2009.

To volunteer, or for more information, please call either Chris Di Liberatore or Mark Rogers at the PASC Regional Office at 902-443-3541.

April 30, 2009

"PSAC Atlantic Director for Nova Scotia, Lori Walton has created a blog for the

Friends of Transition Houses Network.

This has been a difficult time for the Transition Houses here in Nova Scotia. PSAC represents Transition House staff at the following locations Halifax Transition House (Bryony House) for Transition houses in Bridgewater at the South Shore Transition House (Harbour House) and in Kentville (Chrysalis House).

Please join this network along with other unions, transition house workers, associations, organizations and individuals who are coming together to fight to save these important social and community services.

Visit: www.friendsoftransitionhouses.blogspot.com "

April 21, 2009

Members of GSU Local 80052 Keep Hope Alive

Members of GSU Local continue to support initiatives taken on by the Halifax Human Rights Committee as they prepare soup and sandwiches to be delivered to Hope Cottage to feed homeless persons.

April 16, 2009

PSAC JOINS ABORIGINAL GROUPS ON THE NATIONAL ABORIGINAL WATER DAY OF ACTION

Community organizations including members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada walked around Lake Banook, Dartmouth, in solidarity with members of the Aboriginal community to raise awareness of the water issues facing Canada's fresh water supply. Today, it is unacceptable that over 100 First Nations communities have been under boil water advisories for as long as 10 to 15 years. First Nations communities are in a water crisis and the World is running out of clean water.

April 3, 2009

Halifax Stanfield Airport Commissionaires Local 85100

View poster for an Update on Bargaining

April 2, 2009

Letter to NSGEU for 2008 Donation to Union of Postal Communications Employees

(Word) (PDF)

March 30, 2009

Mother Earth Water Walk

April 13th - Dartmouth, NS

Click here for details

March 26, 2009

Attention Activists, Leaders and Members:

Learn how to speak to the media, craft stories and letters to the editor in these free workshops.

Details (Word) (PDF)

March 23, 2009

Senate refuses to stand up to defend Canadians' rights (Word) (PDF)

March 20, 2009

Dr. Shiv Chopra - Canada's Foremost Whistleblower

Kings College, March 26, 2009 7:30 p.m.

March 12, 2009

"Over 100 members from UTE, GSU, UNDE, UCTE and other unions hit the street today to protest the Wage Rollbacks, Pay Equity and EI issues that are buried within the Budget Implementation Act (Bill C-10). Members are strongly encouraged to keep the pressure on the Senate in the form of calls and letters. Your voices are making a difference"

March 12, 2009

Nova Scotia Federation of Labour - Women's Conference

Deborah Young - Sister of the Year

On March 6, 7, 8 the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour held their Women's Conference at the Holiday Inn Select in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. One of the highlights of that conference was the Sister of the Year Award which is given at this conference to a deserving sister who's volunteer work in union and community is over and above the call. The award this year went to Sister Deborah Young, a PSAC member, who works for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Dartmouth, NS.

Deborah Young and Megan Leslie, NDP MP

for Halifax

March 11, 2009

The Annual International Women's Day Conference organized by the Public Service Alliance of Canada and Women from Federal Government Departments was held at the Holiday Inn Harbourview on Wednesday, March 4, 2009.

Approximately 340 women were in attendance at the conference. The Keynote Speaker for the morning was Debbie Eisan, Aboriginal Advisor, Department of National Defence, gave an awsome message to women on the theme "Strong Leaders + Strong Women + Strong World = Equality". Jeannie Baldwin, REVP Atlantic, brought greetings to the conference from the PSAC and gave a 10 minute talk to the conference on Bill C-10 and why women must take a stand against it (e.g. loss of right to file pay equity complaint and CRA wage roll backs). Below are pictures of three of the 23 workshops offered and one of the booths:


Titz & Giltz Booth	Top 9 of 2009 Nutrition Workshop Women are listening to Laurie Barker Jackman


Flirty Fit Workshop Members working out with Linda Elmore	Women & the Media Workshop Rhonda Doyle LeBlanc and daughter, Daryl facilitating

March 10, 2009

PSAC Members from the Annapolis Valley protest Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Berwick, N.S.

March 5th, 2009

March 10, 2009

PSAC SPEAKS OUT AT IWD RALLY AGAINST BILL C-10 AND THE FREEZE SINCE 1996 ON OPERATING EXPENSES TO NS TRANSITION HOUSES


Lori Walton	Transition House Workers

March 5, 2009

CFIA LOCAL 80002 ARE FEEDING THE HOMELESS AT HALIFAX'S HOPE COTTAGE

Alana MacLeod, Darlene MacNeil, Deborah Young, Heather Aiken, Nicole Tilley

March 3, 2009

Rally in opposition of Bill C-10 (View Slideshow)

March 2, 2009

Letter to MP's Rodger Cuzner and Mark Eyking on Bill C-10 from Marie Wilson

(Word) (PDF)

Budget protest : CTV Atlantic: Leah Whitehead on the protest (Click here)

Moncton Bill C-10 Protest (Details)

February 1, 2009

National Local 80016 representing members on the Ingonish side of Cape Breton Highlands National Park held their 2nd Annual successful food drive prior to the Christmas season. Donated food was given to the Good Samaritan Food Bank.

Dean LeFriend, Pres., Ruth McLagan, Fabian Robinson, Larry Dauphinee, CSS

and Margie MacKinnon, Sec.

February 27, 2009

Womens Rights, Human Rights and Workers Rights are under attack.

Lori Walton, Provincial Director, blogs about the PSAC Rally in Halifax this Saturday, February 28 at 12:00 noon

http://oppositiontobillc10.blogspot.com/

Chris DiLiberatore, PSAC Area Council 1 President, has set up a Facebook Event Page:

"Rally to Oppose Bill C10".

January 29, 2009

DONATIONS TO UPCE STRIKERS IN NS

On behalf of the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE), a Component of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which represents 2,400 workers who do clerical, administrative, technical and professional work; we would like to extend our gratitude for your generous financial contributions to the UPCE strike fund. UPCE Brothers and Sisters are very grateful for the show of solidarity within the labour movement. (See Attached)

January 27, 2009

Celebrating African Heritage Month

African Heritage Month is a period dedicated to the recognition, learning, and celebration of Black History in North America. The month of February is a nationally recognized opportunity to acknowledge value and learn from the contributions people of African heritage have made to communities and workplaces. The voice, power, struggles and achievements of persons of African descent have also made critically important changes in the labour movement. The road to equality, recognition and dignity is a long one - it is also a road filled with proud and powerful leaders from African descents. Please join your Union Brothers and Sisters in celebrating this commemorative month.

For additional information and activities on African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia please link to:

http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/pdfs/guides/jan_feb_2009.pdf or

http://www.gov.ns.ca/ansa/AHMevents.asp

January 26, 2009

NOVA SCOTIA ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK ECO-HERO ANNUAL AWARDS

The Nova Scotia Environmental Network present awards that recognize groups and individuals who have made a significant contribution to environmentalism in Nova Scotia. The nomination form and more information is available at www.nsen.ca

December 9, 2008

ANTIGONISH HOLDS RALLY TO SUPPORT UPCE MEMBERS

December 3, 2008

SANTA VISITS UPCE PICKET LINES

November 26, 2008

UPCE SYDNEY MARCH IN SOLIDARITY

November 24, 2008

UPCE ANTIGONISH - STRENGTH IN SOLIDARITY

November 20, 2008

UPCE Strike Effective in Nova Scotia

November 14, 2008

UPCE members in Antigonish hold an Information Picket

November 4, 2008

Members from GSU, UCTE and UEW along with Corps members protested at the entrance to the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth on a cold, but sunny, Hallowe'en day to raise awareness of the terribly slow pace of negotiations. Shouting "Negotiate, We Don't Want Peanuts", members passed out Hallowe'en treats to passing motorists.

October 24, 2008

The Human Rights Committee and Area Council work to feed the homeless at Hope Cottage, Halifax. Debbie Kelly, Karen Jackson, Marilyn (community friend) and Mary Marson prepare sandwiches.

October 17, 2008

Halifax International Airport

Strike Vote Taken (Press Release)

October 1, 2008

Parks Mobilization

Pictures of a Day of Action Event at Cape Breton Highlands Local 80016 in Ingonish Beach.The local held a barbeque on September 9, 2008 to show solidarity and support for their bargaining team. At this barbeque they shredded their collective agreements as they expired August 4, 2007. This activity was scheduled for August 4th but was rained out, but the members were determined to show their support and scheduled it for another date.

Frank Doucette shreds a copy of the expired Parks Collective Agreement while members Tommy Hardy and Stuart Ferguson look on.

Note: Pile of agreements in photo shredded.


Local 80016 membership enjoy a barbeque in recognition of one year without a collective agreement and display the "respect t-shirts".	Members perform a series of songs at the Local barbeque. From L-R Front Row - Derek Quann, Marie Stradeski, Denis Hache. Back Row - Travis Halliday and Gerard Barron.	A full slab cake with "Parks Canada says NO to Collective Agreement" to close out the barbeque.

September 25, 2008

Sisters in Spirit Vigil - An End To Violence Against Aboriginal Women

For additional information click here

September 12, 2008

UNDE IN SOLIDARITY

20 Members of UNDE Local 80403 passed out leaflets in solidarity with member of UNDE 90125 - SERCO, Goose Bay to protest DND moving Norad & Aloulette exercises from Goose Bay to Greenwood.

August 12, 2008

Save our Service - Air Canada is eliminating 187 flight attendant jobs in Halifax.

Please send a message to Air Canada President Montie Brewer, Minister of Labour Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Transport Lawrence Cannon, and your local MP encouraging Mr. Brewer to re-consider this decision.

http://cupe.ca/action/save-our-service

August 7, 2008

PSAC Atlantic members, staff and children march with "Pride" and 'Think Public" in the Halifax Pride Parade held on July 26, 2008.

July 14, 2008

Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Submission To Pension Review Committee

(PDF) (Word)

May 7, 2008

Parks members are calling on their Employer to "Get Quacking"

Download video

Download Slideshow

December 12, 2007

EQUALITY - A SOURCE OF PRIDE
HOMOPHOBIA TRAINING HELD IN SYDNEY

Members of the Sydney Human Rights Committee participated in Homophobia Training. The Committee recognizes that diversity in the union makes us stronger and more able to challenge the discrimination found in many workplaces and in the government. Now is the time for understanding!