“Recent statements by the Employers’ Council clearly demonstrate that they have no concern for the costs of health care or in delaying access to health care in the province." — Carol Furlong, NAPE President.
“These are disappointing actions from an employer who depends on the goodwill of the public and the commitment of its workers,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker.
“There are solidarity pickets going up at other home support agencies across the province as our members go out on strike tomorrow and take a stand for parity. This is an issue of fairness for all NSGEU/NUPGE home support workers.” — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
Contract talks completed for health care providers in Saskatchewan.
“Home support workers provide an invaluable service to our community. We hope the government recognizes the value of their work, and await their reply. These workers deserve the same hourly wage as someone doing the same job in hospitals.” - Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
“We welcome the prospect of good jobs being maintained at the plant, which has served as the keystone of Leamington’s economy for generations,” says Robert Crawford, President of UFCW Canada Local 459.
Countdown to strike action about to start for more Nova Scotia home support workers.
"Our members appreciated the solidarity, not only of the brewery movement but from people across sectors. The donations, words of encouragement and campaigning for a fair deal helped the strikers keep going until the end." — James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Imposed pension changes miss the mark, says HSAA/NUPGE.
Workers in Alberta continues to organize against unjust pension attacks. Join the rally to show your support for pensions!
The impending passage of Bill C-525 will be a victory for neither Canadians nor democracy. The only people celebrating will be those few at the top who will gain even more profit and control over our politics, economies and lives.
“Nurses know they need to take a stand to ensure they are able to deliver safe patient care moving into the future.” - Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
The agreement is clear, and yet HSABC/NUPGE has over 200 members affected by issues of inappropriate layoff or reduction of hours, with more grievances filed every day. In effect, these employers have been breaking the contract and HSABC/NUPGE has been fighting back.
"We welcome its creation, and believe that it will help empower self-advocates, families and other individuals supporting adults with developmental disabilities.” - Darryl Walker, BCGEU President.
"These workers provide vital services to the people of Peterborough and surrounding area. The employer needs to recognize that fact, and put forward a contract offer in keeping with it.”— Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.
Labour activists came together for a one-day conference highlighting diversity issues in the workplace.
“BCGEU members know all too well that budget cuts have undermined the delivery of public services and that these cuts have a negative impact on the economy.” - Darryl Walker, BCGEU President.
"Whether it is sharing a biographic database of people who cross the border or the review of Canadian bank accounts with more than $50,000 to determine if they are “U.S. reportable” the freedom and privacy of Canadians is rapidly eroding away" - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
"I conclude on a balance of probabilities that the applicants have established that the membership of AUPE, specifically in the Crown bargaining unit, will experience irreparable harm if the proposed injunction is not granted." — Justice Denny Thomas.
Home support workers in Nova Scotia are trying to negotiate wage parity with workers in the hospital setting. Northwood is one of many who are refusing to recognize their worth.
"We work on behalf of our members to promote and protect their rights in the workplace but our social justice work ensures that all people can achieve full equality, union and non-union, here in Canada and around the world." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
NSGEU/NUPGE celebrates successful first year of the National Standard, promoting employees’ psychological health and preventing psychological harm due to workplace factors.
Nova Scotia Health Minister Leo Glavine had been invited last November to contribute to the study given his prominent role in advocating for prescription drug reform. The committee is looking at possible government intervention for reducing the problem of prescription drug abuse.
Community social service workers care for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. This new collective agreement goes a long way in recognizing their important contributions.
"This bill will provide long-needed protection from harassment, discrimination and violence. This bill has the ability to make the lives of many, many people safer. We must do everything we can to support it." - James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
"A recent event at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary (HMP) might have been a life threatening situation if not for the instinctive and quick reaction of experienced correctional officers, who should be commended for their handling of an extremely volatile situation, with few resources.” - Carol Furlong, NAPE President.
The film’s director is David Yates, who made the last four Harry Potter movies. The actors involved include: Andrew Lincoln (star zombie-fighter on the hit AMC TV show The Walking Dead), Bill Nighy (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Love, Actually), Javier Cámara (star of Pedro Almodóvar films Talk to Her and Bad Education), Clémence Poésy (Harry Potter), and Heike Makatsch (Love, Actually).
“The facts behind Jeffrey’s tragic neglect and death are unimaginable,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, who represents more than 3,600 child protection workers in the province. “But the coroner’s jury has provided the Ministry with a roadmap of recommendations that, if implemented immediately, will greatly reduce the risk of another tragedy like this to ever occur again.
“Alberta will now lead the way in Canada as being the worst offender for violating international labour standards that it has committed to uphold and promote.”
NUPGE alleges that the two pieces of legislation violate the basic principle of freedom of association as set out in the constitution of the ILO and the ILO Convention No. 87 – Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize (1948).
Home support workers are trying to negotiate fair wages that reflect the level of care they provide in the community, on par with hospital workers.
“It breaks my heart that, because of funding shortfalls, I’m not allowed enough time to give seniors and other home support clients the level of care that they need." — Donna Stubbe, community health worker.
Saskatchewan government's divisive approach does nothing to resolve problems and comes at the expense of people's basic rights.
“It is unfortunate that labour relations at Carleton University have come to this,” said OPSEU President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “It’s time for the University to make some serious decisions about commitment to campus safety.”
New collective agreements in place for members at two colleges in Manitoba.
The list of missing and murdered women gets longer every year.
The Charter's right to freedom of association “was not intended to protect against association with others that is a necessary and inevitable part of membership in modern democratic community.”
The National Union is providing financial contribution to the Russian LGBT Network and encourages others to do likewise. The Network is doing amazing work in the face of both state repression and street violence.
"The government should be doing everything in its power to save lives and promoting agency store expansion is not one of them.” — Debbie Bovyer, PEIUPSE President.
In Canada, coinciding with federal budget day, activists criticize that the spying agency will be housed in the “most expensive government building ever built” using a budget that’s more than doubled in the last decade, while essential services face cutbacks.
"We need more people voting, not less. We need more strigent oversight to prevent election fraud, not less. We need more accountability from those involved in the process, not less. This legislation undermines the entire process." — James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Sign the petition calling on the government of Canada to work with the provinces and territories to increase the number of good quality and affordable child care spaces in Canada.
“This is an incredible story that a small group of 45 workers in St. John’s would receive such international attention and solidarity from workers as far away as Argentina, Australia, Belgium, the United States, and across Canada. We are very grateful for the support that helped our workers through this difficult time." — Carol Furlong, NAPE President.
Canada Post has an internal study showing how successful postal banking could be but the idea was rejected. Orchestrated crisis?
“Home support workers play a critical role within our healthcare system. They certainly deserve the same hourly wage their counterparts receive.” — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
"These layoffs will only add to the backlog. When are Saskatchewan health regions going to start putting patients first?” - Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan President Karen Wasylenko.
"So now we know what the Conservatives think is the most important reform for our democracy: people not voting. In their minds, voting is not a good thing. It is to be discouraged, at least for everyone who isn't likely to support them." — Larry Brown, NUPGE National Secretary-Treasurer.
Bill C-525 sets the bar so high for employees to choose to belong to a union that if the same rules applied to federal elections, the House of Commons would sit empty.
Five pre-budget consultation meetings will be taking place across the Province with Finance Minister Jennifer Howard.
"Making real change and improvements in the child welfare system is going to require the will of the B.C. government and a much more strategic action and investment plan for recruitment, health and safety, and retention of frontline workers." — Darryl Walker, BCGEU President.
You can make a difference in this struggle for fair treatment in the workplace, and especially as FloraHolland reorganizes its business, by sending an email to FloraHolland Directors.
Report shows that many people supervised by for-profit probation companies wouldn’t be on probation to begin with if they had more money.
Think tank calls on feds to alleviate income inequality, not make it worse.
“With Social Impact Bonds, if a project fails, charitable donations will go to a company that made $7.9 billion in 2012,” said James Clancy, NUPGE National President.
Improvements in this collective agreement demonstrate how valuable community health care workers are to British Columbians who rely on them for support and community services.
"With fewer people now to do the work, how can it be more efficient?” — Susie Proulx-Daigle, NBU President.
“We are asking government to now focus their attention on reaching a fair collective agreement for these two groups which are currently at the bargaining table,” said Furlong.
To pay for the tax breaks, Ottawa has borrowed billions of dollars and driven up the national debt. Now, the government has chosen to make big cuts to public services essential to Canadians in order to pay the bill for its tax giveaways.
“Julian Fantino’s bullying, disrespect and indifference aimed against our veterans is nothing short of breathtaking,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas, commenting on the minister’s late arrival and abrupt departure from a scheduled meeting with representatives of the veterans to discuss the closing of regional offices.
“B.C.’s public liquor stores have a long history of responsible retailing and continue to sell most of the beer, wine and liquor sold in our province today. This is also an important source of provincial revenue to fund public services,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “If the government is determined to move to a store-within-a-store model, these should be public stores with trained, experienced staff.”
Moving stories and passionate comments were part of the evening at the All Together Now townhall in Windsor.
The plan now covers 100% of eligible expenses for drugs listed on the BC Pharmacare formulary, Prometrium, approved Special Authority drugs, oral, and injectable contraceptives, and 50% for non-Pharmacare drugs.