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Education is An Investment, Not An Expense - Let’s Really Put Kids First, Jessome Says
Responding to the announcement yesterday by the CCRSB to cut 48.7 full-time or equivalent support staff positions, Jessome states this is the wrong direction for the Board and government to be taking. “Education is an investment in our future, not an expense.”
“At this time, with the future of Nova Scotia looking so promising with “Ships Start Here”, we should be investing in our P-12 education - not cutting it, says Jessome. “We fear the effects of these cuts to front-line school support staff will be felt by students for years and will have far-reaching implications for the education system as a whole.”
“School support staff, including librarians, IT technologists, secretaries, clerks, and educational assistants are critical links in our education system,” says Joan Jessome.
The CCRSB has identified that the 48.7 full-time or equivalent positions include 21.2 full time library positions.
“Librarians are needed more than ever in this digital age. They have the skills necessary to help students navigate the world-wide-web to find relevant, appropriate and accurate information that supports their classroom learning,” says Jessome. “They teach students how to gather and use information ethically, responsibly and safely.”
Educational Assistants support students with special needs and create an atmosphere in which they can learn to the best of their abilities. “Cuts to EAs hurt both the student who needs the support and the rest of the class who are affected when the student doesn’t receive the support they need,” Jessome says.
“Without appropriate administrative support staff, schools would stop functioning,” says Jessome. “Whether they are secretaries in the front offices, or financial or administrative clerks in the back office, they have the organizational and communication skills that keep our schools running.”
“Nova Scotia would be in the dark ages without the hard work and dedication of the IT staff,” says Jessome, “who keep today’s technology and emerging technology working and in-line with the academic expectations of students and today’s curriculum.”
Funding P-12 education is an investment into the economic future of the province – not an expense. Let’s really put kids first.
Labour Federation says Governments statements on layoffs and service cuts in health care are unfair and divisive
Recent comments from Premier Dexter on potential service cuts and job losses in health care are unfair and divisive as thousands of health care workers face upcoming bargaining.
Nova Scotia Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke says these comments appear to be directed at the members as a scare tactic to make them wary and insecure and it would have been better, if legitimate, to discuss these concerns with the stakeholders, rather than invoke unfair interference in the bargaining process.
Quoted in a Chronicle Herald article on Wednesday May 2, 2012, Premier Dexter stated that the raises coming to Capital Health employees of Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) Local 42 could result in layoffs and will put additional pressure of Capital Health services.
This statement is similar to one made by Finance Minister Graham Steele in March when he warned the government is still facing some challenges including “unsustainable" wage demands from health-care unions.
“To hear the Finance Minister say that and now the Premier says that unions should know that layoffs and cutbacks could result if they get wage increases in bargaining – that is unfair.
“There is more than one stakeholder at the bargaining table and putting focus on one side, in this case the workers, is indeed unfair interference in the process adding undue burden and pressure on the workers - what about the high cost and unnecessary duplication of administration with and within the District Health Authorities & Health Association Nova Scotia out of taxpayers’ money?
“This tactic is unnecessary, unprofessional and could undermine good faith bargaining,” Clarke says in conclusion.
NSGEU Celebrates Nurses Week
Every year during the first week of May, we celebrate Nurses Week and take time to acknowledge the contributions Nurses make to the lives of Nova Scotians.
This year, at the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia’s Annual AGM, members of NSGEU Nurses’ Occupational Council, Rebecca Norris, Karen Ferguson, Maureen MacEachern, Joanie MacDonald-Paquet, and Joanne Fairfax, brought forward a resolution which will establish a working group made up of 50% frontline nurses. It directs the College to look at changes in our health care system and the roles of RNs within it.
The resolution was read by Maureen MacEachern, and seconded by Karen Ferguson, debated and then passed by the College. The resolution is as follows:
- RNs in the Changing Health Care System
- Department of Justice, Maintenance Enforcement: On Tuesday, May 8, at 7:30 pm, NSGEU will be hosting a telephone town hall for members effected by the job relocations to New Waterford. Taking part is easy. We'll call you between 7:30 and 7:35 pm and when you pick up the phone, you'll be connected to the meeting. Press '0' at any time to join the speaker or question list. To ensure we have your accurate home phone number, please contact us at 424-4063, 1-877-556-7438, or inquiry@nsgeu.ca
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Department of Agriculture: On Thursday, May 10, at 5 pm NSGEU will be hosting a meeting at our office in Burnside (100 Eileen Stubbs Ave.) for all members whose jobs will be effected by job relocations to Truro, Shelburne, and Clementsport.
- 3 directors designated by the NSGEU – They are: NSGEU Executive Director, Keiren Tompkins; Policy Analyst/Service Coordinator, Ian Johnson; and Local 8 member, Paul Hagen
- 1 director designated by CUPE Local 1867
- 1 director representing non-unionized employees
- 1 director representing retirees
- Between 4 and 6 directors designated by government
- Local 19--Ron Connors, Electrician - Netbook computer
- Local 97--Pamela Clarke, RN, Public Health - Netbook computer
- Local 246-- Judy Burke, Administrative Assistant - Netbook computer
- Local 42-- Heather Rea, Social Worker - Netbook computer
- Local 42-- Celeste Lacombe, Community Outreach Worker - Netbook computer
- BlackBerry Playbook winners --Arabelle Joudrey, LPN, Local 42 and Francesca Rake, RN, Local 97
- Results are as follows:
- Local 32, Yarmouth Argyle Home Support Services voted 90% in favour
- Local 30, Digby/Clare Home Support Agency voted 100% in favour.
- Local 39, Inverness County Home Support Society voted 100% in favour.
- Local 83, Northside Homemakers Service Society voted 98% in favour.
- Local 84, Cape Breton County Homemaker Agency voted 97% in favour.
- Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 6-9pm, Best Western Glengarry, Salon C, 150 Willow St., Truro
- Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 6-9pm, Best Western Glengarry, Salon C, 150 Willow St., Truro
- Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 6-9pm, Best Western Glengarry, Salon C, 150 Willow St., Truro
- Be it resolved that the College establish a working group, one that includes 50% of frontline staff, which is representative of various nursing practices and geographic areas, to provide consultation to the CRNNS, to identify scope of practice issues and clarify the role of RNs, with the purpose of protecting the public and preserving the integrity of the nursing profession. This strategy will encourage and promote a professional quality workplace environment as it pertains to the changing health care system.
Members of the NSGEU Nurses Occupational Council at the CRNNS AGM, May 2, 2012
NSGEU Decries Rash Government Decision To Relocate Nearly 100 Civil Service Jobs
NSGEU President Joan Jessome speaks to reporters about the government's announcement about relocating dozens of civil service jobs
Meetings For Members Whose Jobs Are Slated For Relocation
“We are wholeheartedly in favour of the government creating new jobs in rural Nova Scotia,” says NSGEU President Joan Jessome. “But what government announced today isn’t about creating new jobs, it’s about moving numbers around. In some cases, they’re simply moving jobs that are already done in rural locations to another rural location. It doesn’t make much sense.”
Like the rest of Nova Scotia, NSGEU and the civil service employees it represents only heard about the government’s relocation plans during the Throne Speech last month. The government only officially notified the union about its intentions over the past couple of weeks, and the full extent of those plans only came to light today.
“Our members are really upset about this,” says Jessome. “They’ve established their homes and their families, their lifestyles, their partners who are working who don’t get transferred so it’s not all rosy as some people are suggesting. Business is saying it’s good. The mayors are saying it’s good. Government is saying it’s good. But it’s having a real impact on 75 people who I represent.”
Relocating the jobs will also have an impact on the people who depend on the services provided by these civil service employees. Many of them are Program Administration Officers, and have built up years of experience and expertise in their field. If they don’t choose to move with the job – which the union believed will likely be the case with most of these employees – the government will be losing an important resource.
Members of Local 42 vote 90% in Favour of Tentative Agreement
Local 42 has a new collective agreement!
Come Out and Celebrate at Mayworks! A Workers Festival of the Arts - Starts Tonight, April 27 and runs until May 5
For more information, please click on image below
Deadline for Ballots is 12 Noon
The Local 42 ratification vote count will get underway at Unit 10 -130 Eileen Stubbs Ave, 12:30 pm today, April 27 - All members are welcome to attendThe count will take approximately 2.5 hrs to complete, with results at 3pm.
Members voted following the Local 42 meeting at Olympic Gardens on Wednesday evening
Below: Members of the Local 42 Bargaining Committee have spent 5 grueling days in mediation.
To download this poster please Click Here.
UPDATE:NORTHWOOD BEDFORD VOTES 98% in Favour of Strike Action to Support the Bargaining Committee's Demands in Negotiations:
More Than 80 Cast Ballots During First Of Three Voting Sessions
Members of Local 41 get their ballots after hearing from local and union leadership about next steps in negotiations on their first collective agreement with Northwood Homecare
It was standing room only as more than 80 members of NSGEU Local 41 crowded into the multipurpose room at the BMO Centre in Bedford on Thursday, April 12, to hear why a strike vote has been called. Negotiating the 160-member local's first contract with Northwood Homecare Inc., the bargaining committee called the strike vote to solidfy its position before going into conciliation.
Although they perform the same role as similar care providers at Capital Health and another Northwood facility in Halifax, the Northwood employees at Ivany Place are paid $2- to $4-an-hour less and receive fewer vacation days each year. So far, the employer hasn't expressed willingness to address these basic inequities.
84 of the local members cast ballots during the first session. Local leaders are holding two more strike vote sessions: MORE
An historic day for the Public Service Superannuation Pension plan
The government today announced the introduction of a new Financial Measures Act with strengthened governance for the Public Superannuation Pension Plan.
The legislation transitions our PSSP from a sole-trustee plan to a jointly-trusteed plan.
Joint trusteeship ensures that our PSSP plan will be there for our members far into the future and that our members have a say in that future. This is more important than ever because, despite the fact that pensions allow people to grow old without growing poor, pensions continue to be under attack.
We will be working hard to maintain a strong plan that will serve the members well, provide stability into the future, and protect and improve their benefits.
For the first time, NSGEU representatives will share in the decision making about the plan’s assets and will have a say about what to do if the plan is over or under funded.
The new Trustee for the plan is “The Public Service Superannuation Plan Trustee Inc. (PSSPTI)”. In approximately one year, the PSSPTI will assume responsibility for the PSSP plan. Until then, the Minister of Finance remains the sole trustee.
- Board of Directors of the Public Service Superannuation Plan Trustee Inc. (PSSPTI):
The Trustee Board will continue to rely on the Nova Scotia Pension Agency for the provision of all pension and investment administration services.
Please note that these changes to the governance of the plan do not reduce or change any of the Plan’s benefits for members or retirees.
Strengthening the governance of this plan at this time is the right thing to do and we are proud to be a part of it.
For more information about changes to the governance of the plan, please visit Nova Scotia Pension Agency
Civil Service members who are devolved need more protection than Section 31 of the Trade Union Act.
The Union objects to a second piece of legislation introduced today, April 12 as it does not contain sufficient protections for our members who will be devolved out of the Civil Service and into an new pension agency. “The Pension Service Corporation Act” creates a separate non-profit corporation that will replace the existing Nova Scotia Pension Agency by April 1, 2013.It will provide pension administration and investment administration services for all plans currently served by the NSPA.
We have 29 members who work for the Nova Scotia Pension Agency (NSPA) within government and are members of the Civil Service.
We have argued that our members should remain in the Civil Service bargaining unit. There is no need to create a new bargaining unit. They are doing the same work and will have the same job classifications in the new Agency. This approach was refused.
If they are not going to remain in the Civil Service, we argued that the legislation should include provisions to adequately protect our members’ current rights and working conditions. This includes specific provisions to protect their current health benefits, leaves, etc. so they would not see their working conditions harmed by any employer in the future.This approach was refused as well.
Government continues to insist that Section 31 of the Trade Union Act is sufficient protection for the members when it is not.
Past governments have included legislation to shield Civil Service members from harm when they were being devolved - something this government unfortunately refuses to do.
Local 42 Bargaining:Conciliation Breaks Down, Local Likely To Be In Strike Position On Wednesday, April 25
Conciliation talks between NSGEU and the CDHA have broken off after the employer refused to change their position at the table. All but one of the employer’s concessions remained on the table and there was no change to their wage offer which was 1% in each year of a three-year agreement.
The union will be asking conciliator John Greer to file his report to the minister of Labour and Advanced Education which will trigger a 14-day countdown to a strike. We expect this to occur on Tuesday, April 10.
The Union’s bargaining committee is bitterly disappointed that the employer has chosen not to present our members with an offer that respects the important work we do. We remain committed to achieving an agreement that is fair for our members, we are prepared to do whatever is required to do so.
MORE Local 42 website | Local 42 Facebook page
NSGEU Strongly Condemns 'Devastating' Layoffs At Schools Across Central Nova Scotia
The NSGEU strongly condemns the layoff of more than 130 people at the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board, including the elimination of 54.6 FTE NSGEU positions. Union representatives learned during a meeting last night the full extent of the school board’s cost-slashing measures.
School libraries? Gone. Resources for students with behavioural or development issues? Reduced. Good, productive jobs in Central Nova Scotia? Slashed.
“This is going to be devastating. Taking libraries out of schools is like taking food out of the cafeteria,” says NSGEU President Joan Jessome. “There is simply no question these cuts will have a terrible impact on the education received by thousands of Nova Scotia children.”
School board staff are beginning to meet today with employees who they want to lay off. Some could be out of work by the end of June. The job cuts are targeted at a variety of different board employees, including 54.6 NSGEU positions, 20.5 CUPE positions, 51.8 NSTU positions, and 4 non-union positions.
NSGEU is planning to fight these layoffs. The school board is holding its next meeting on Wednesday, April 11, at 7 pm (at Truro Junior High, 445 Young St.), and the union is already planning activities to ensure that these layoffs are front-and-centre on the agenda.
President Joan Jessome responded to the budget on Tuesday, April 3, at the Nova Scotia legislature.
“The public sector has done its fair share,” President Jessome said.
“On page three of the budget document, Minister Steele recognizes the role the public sector has played in the budgets of the past that have allowed them to meet their targets.” “He acknowledges the 1 % wage increases our members agreed to over the past two years (while the cost of living has risen over 3%),” says Jessome.” “He mentions the changes to the Public Service Superannuation Pension plan (where benefits were reduced) and the 10% reduction in the Civil Service (where positions have been eliminated, and in many cases, those workers who are left are doing the jobs of two or three).”
“Despite this, on page 11, Minister Steele continues to ask the public sector to tighten our belts, says Jessome. “Public service workers have been reasonable in this province over the past two years. They have done their fair share for the economy of Nova Scotia.”
“Our members are now asking us to negotiate a wage that keeps them up with the cost of living.” “We think this is a reasonable position.”
President Jessome mentioned that cuts to the public sector have hit women disproportionately because the majority of public sector workers are women.
She also commented on the need for more funding for mental health in the budget and referred to the cuts of 17 Youth Care Workers at the IWK.
Local 42 Members And Supporters Show Solidarity As Local's Bargaining Committee Starts Conciliation
NSGEU Local 42 Vice President Frances MacDonald takes part in the local's information picket.
As the bargaining committee for Local 42 (CDHA - Health Care) started conciliation with the employer, members of the local and their supporters crowded the sidewalk outside the Halifax Infirmary to underscore their support for a contract that keeps them from falling farther behind the rising cost of living. MORE PICTURES| On Facebook
NSGEU in coalition with CUPE and SEIU held a news conference and launched province wide radio advertisements urging the public to contact their MLAs and tell them to restore funding and stop cutting education budgets.
CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE RADIO SPOT
NSAC-Dal Merger: Still a lot of unanswered questions.
Today, March 23, President Joan Jessome attended the press conference held by the Minister of Agriculture and Dalhousie University where they announced an agreement in principle to merge the two institutions. At the information session held prior to the press conference we learned that seniority, the public service award, and the current pension plan will be protected for current NSAC employees. We remain concerned that rights and working conditions related to job security, wages, and long term disability benefits, just to name a few, are left out of the government's scope. President Jessome asked for details about what Dalhousie's plans were for the bargaining units once the current agreements expire and stressed the need for a single bargaining unit for the NSAC members. The response from Dal was that those negotiations with the union have yet to come. Consequently, we remain concerned about these issues as the merger proceeds. Following the press conference, President Jessome was interviewed by the media.
View President Joan Jessome’s interview with CTV’s Rick Grant regarding concerns with NSAC-Dal merger in full:
We've "been great", we've "done good"; now we ask you, NSAC, to "be fair".
Workers at the NSAC have lived up to the Agricultural College's slogan, "Be Great. Do Good."...now the workers ask the NSAC to "Be Fair" when it comes to the upcoming merger with Dalhousie University.
Members of the NSAC Working Group, Alex Martynenko , George Smith, Debbie Mellish, John Stackhouse, Tom Cole, Jessica MacGillivary met on February 23, 2012
The NSAC Working Group met to discuss next steps in the fight to maintain existing rights and benefits as well as a bargaining unit in Truro as merger discussions proceed with Dalhousie University.
Local 42 Strike Vote: Voting is now underway; Ballots Being Mailed To All Local Members; People Can Also Drop In To Our Office To Vote
NSGEU President Joan Jesssome Addresses A Large Crowd Of Local 42 Members During A Meeting At the Halifax Infirmary On Tuesday, Feb. 21
Talks broke off last week between Local 42's bargaining committee and the employer, and the union has called a strike vote in advance of conciliation.
All members of Local 42 are eligible and encouraged to cast a ballot in this crucial vote.
It doesn’t matter if you work on a permanent full-time or casual part-time schedule. It doesn’t matter if you are a signed member of NSGEU or not. Every person who works in a job covered by the Local 42 collective agreement is eligible to cast a ballot in this strike vote.
The strike vote is being conducted by mail-in ballot. A package of information about the vote, including a ballot and a postage paid return envelope, has been mailed out to all members for whom we have addresses.
If you haven’t received your strike vote package by the end of February, please contact us at 424-4063, 1-877-556-7438, or inquiry@nsgeu.ca
Local 42 members can also cast their ballot by dropping into the NSGEU’s head office at 100 Eileen Stubbs Avenue in Burnside. We’re open Mondays to Friday’s from 9 am to 5 pm.
For the latest information in Local 42 bargaining, please visit www.nsgeulocal42.com, www.facebook.com/nsgeulocal42, or follow us on Twitter at @nsgeu42.
NSGEU at Capital Health: Announcing the winners of our draw for Netbooks and Blackberry Playbooks!"
We received approximately 1500 ballots for the draw.
And the winners are:
Celeste Lacombe picked up her Netbook today. Congratulations Celeste!
NSGEU Local 42 at Capital Health is at the bargaining table today, Feb.14, 2012
Members of Local 42's Bargaining Committee, Roberta Banfield, Allan Lapierre, Ruth Plant, Sherri-Lee Turner, and Bruce Williams, along with President Joan Jessome, Chief Negotiators Robin MacLean and Neil McNeil, and Employee Relations Officers Nicole McKim and Tony Bremner await the arrival of the employer to begin negotiations of a new collective agreement.
After an initial exchange of proposals on Feb. 6, members of Local 42’s Bargaining Committee and union representatives sat down today to begin the hard work of negotiating a new collective agreement.
If you are a member, or a member of the public and have any questions about Local 42 bargaining or wish to offer your support, please friend us on our new Facebook site, Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union – Local 42 and link to our website www.nsgeulocal42.com.
President Joan Jessome attended the Department of Education's press conference today - February 10, 2012
The provincial government announced today that they are cutting funding to the school boards by an average of 1.3% this year. The only school board that will not be cut is the Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial because the number of students is increasing.
The actual percentage reductions vary from board to board with a cap of 2.1%.
The South Shore School Board, the Cape Breton Regional School Board and the Strait Regional School Board all are facing a 2.1% decrease; Annapolis Valley Regional School Board and Halifax Regional School Board both face a 0.9% decrease; Chignecto-Central Regional School Board and Tri-County Regional School Board are both facing a 1.7% decrease.
“When you reduce Tri-County and South Shore School Boards by 2.1 and 1.7 percent, says President Joan Jessome, “a hit like that is pretty significant”.
These budget reductions make an already stressful situation even worse as our members wait to see what decisions their board makes to reduce their budgets. The province indicated at the press conference they believe the savings can be found through attrition.
The Department of Education’s Chief Operating Officer, Frank Dunn explained during the media briefing that school boards actually spent $152 million last year on special needs. The province’s budget for next year brings the amount allocated to the boards to $137.9 million for special needs.
“We are pleased to see the province has decided to continue with the integrated approach to special needs education and is increasing the allocation of special needs funding,” says Jessome. “However, it is not yet matching the amount of money school boards are actually spending as they support students in the classroom.”
“How are they going to make up the $14 million difference? Are they going to put in more money to fully fund special needs? Or will they not be able to provide them? We have many questions."
Strike Votes underway in NSGEU’s 14 home support locals
NSGEU President Joan Jessome speaks to members of Local 34 - Northwood Homecare during a meeting on Jan. 16 at the Dartmouth Sportsplex.
President Joan Jessome has been travelling from Yarmouth to Sydney holding strike votes and information sessions for home support locals that are in bargaining. “We have held five strike votes so far”, she says, “and they are all overwhelmingly in favour of a strike to support their bargaining demands.”
“We are hoping the employers and the government realize the seriousness of the situation and put forward their best possible offer – one that we will be able to recommend to the membership.”
All of the locals have had high voter turnouts.
NSGEU members at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College need government to keep their promise
There is a very good chance NSAC will soon merge with Dalhousie University, perhaps even in 2012. The merger will help the Agricultural College tap new and larger sources of research funding, but will also mean new collective agreements for the college’s employees, and could also mean wage and benefit clawbacks at the bargaining table will be sought by the new employer.
The NSGEU is asking government to live up to the promises it made four years ago when it set the stage for an independent NSAC. At that time, the government promised wage, benefit, and job security protections for the employees. Government must do the same again now.
We are holding information sessions in January, February and March where NSGEU senior staff will be present to answer any questions members may have.
For more information please click here to download our Fact Sheet.
