NSGEU working with Dalhousie Faculty Association and Dalhousie University to develop a plan for a sustainable daycare at the Agricultural Campus in Truro

On June 24, 2016 we learned that Dalhousie University was closing the daycare at the Agricultural Campus in Truro. We represent four members of Local 92 who provide these valuable daycare services for the campus and surrounding community and immediately began advocating on behalf of our members and the services they provide.

The Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) has a provision in their collective agreement that requires the maintenance of a daycare at the Agricultural Campus and they launched a grievance regarding Dalhousie University’s decision to close the facility.

During the lead up to the arbitration, all parties (the NSGEU, the DFA, and Dalhousie) were able to meet and agree to continue working together to develop viable solutions in order to re-open this important on-campus daycare.

We issued a joint release:

TO:                         Local Media

FROM:                   Dalhousie University, DFA, and NSGEU

DATE:                    August 30, 2016

SUBJECT:              Agricultural Campus Daycare Update

Dalhousie University and the Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) have adjourned their labour arbitration regarding the closure of the Agricultural Campus daycare. Together with the NSGEU, we have agreed to explore additional options for on-campus daycare facilities.

“Dalhousie University believes that on-campus daycare offers many benefits for our university community. We need to make sure that this service is offered in an effective and efficient manner,” says Ian Nason, Dalhousie Vice-President of Finance and Administration.

We will be meeting over the coming months and we’re optimistic that we will reach a mutually agreeable solution. We understand that the Agricultural campus daycare has been an important part of our community and we are committed to exploring options for a daycare model that meets the needs of our faculty, staff, and students.

“Our goal is to ensure that our Members at the Faculty of Agriculture have access to on-campus daycare services that can also serve students, staff and the broader community,” says DFA President Laurene Rehman. “We look forward to working with the Board and NSGEU to ensure that these services be both sustainable and of the highest possible quality.”

“While this has been a difficult process for our dedicated members and effected families, we are pleased now to be working on a solution to continue the valuable daycare services at the Agricultural Campus for all those who need them,” says Jason MacLean, President of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union.

As we work together to resolve this issue, daycare services on the Agricultural Campus will be suspended.  This suspension of service will begin on September 3, 2016, as we work towards finding viable options to ensure a sustainable daycare service. If the situation is not resolved by January 20, 2017, the arbitration on the DFA grievance will resume. During this time all daycare employees who are laid off shall retain their right to severance pay and recall until the grievance is resolved.