Letter from the President

*This article appears in the current issue of the Union Stand

After a long winter, I think we’re all looking forward to enjoying the milder spring and summer months ahead!

Here at the union, the past few months have been busy and challenging. We have been pushing back against the Houston government’s new agenda of cuts to the public service both behind the scenes and within the public eye, launching the “Cuts Have Consequences” online e-action campaign to highlight the impact these cuts will have on our communities, while trying to assist laid off members as they navigate the difficult and complicated process of exercising their placement rights.
One thing has become abundantly clear: the Houston government did not have a fulsome understanding of the budget cuts that were announced in February, or the impact these cuts would have on the people who deliver our public services. But they are starting to understand and feel the heat, as people push back against cuts to the services they hold near and dear, like our libraries, museums, and arts and cultural institutions.

The spring budget session has dealt a definitive blow to the Premier’s popularity, with his polling dropping 16 points. We will be doing our part to keep the pressure up on Premier Houston and his government throughout the summer months and heading into the fall session of the Legislature, while preparing for arbitrations on the return-to-office mandate and job security language for our civil service members. We are also getting ready to engage in one of the first run-off votes in decades, in Nova Scotia’s public housing sector, as ordered by the Nova Scotia Labour Board, after government made the decision to amalgamate all of the housing authorities.

At the same time, union staff are busy at bargaining tables for the community care sector, preparing for the next round of acute care bargaining, and advocating on behalf of our health care members at the IWK and NSH Central Zone as they deal with the impact of the One Person One Record rollout in their workplace.

Staff and activists with the union have been working hard to maintain our existing rights and benefits, and preparing to fight for more, as all Nova Scotians feel the pressure of persistently high inflation at every turn.

It is more important than ever that members pay attention to what is going on within workplaces, communities and their union, and get active in whatever way you can! Maybe that means just making an effort to read your union emails, attend your local meetings or regional social events, sign an e-action, or show up at a rally! And if you see your MLA over the summer, you should voice your concerns about these cuts. Your voice and participation make a real difference. This is your union!
I hope to see you at some of our events over the summer months!
In solidarity,

Sandra Mullen
President, NSGEU