April 28, 2015

Bill 100 – Another attack on workers’ constitutional rights by the Liberal Government – Please sign up to speak against this Bill at Law Amendments

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This time government is targeting Universities!

Bill 100 “Universities Accountability and Sustainability Act” was introduced by the Liberal government on Wed., April 22 and promoted as a Bill designed to make universities more accountable. Who doesn’t want universities to be more accountable and sustainable? However, the Bill contains a stealthy section, Section 8, that if left in, gives unprecedented power to the universities to take away workers’ rights and dictate their own terms.

Section 8 of Bill 100 makes it possible for a university with a “significant operating deficit” to initiate a restructuring process to produce a “revitalization plan” in order to continue to receive government funding.Once the university enters this process, the university can forbid the signing of any collective agreement, ban strikes, and take away the ability of unionized employees to start or continue any grievance that relates to the revitalization plan or process. All the employer must do is give notice to the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education.Post-secondary workers have the constitutional right to free collective bargaining and the right to strike under the Trade Union Act. This Bill overrides rights in both of these areas by giving the university unilateral powers.

Tell the Premier to remove Section 8 and related provisions from this Bill and to stop attacking workers’ rights.

Law Amendments Hearing Thursday, April 30

We also need people to sign up to speak against the Bill at Law Amendments Committee hearing on Thursday, April 30 beginning at 9am. Please call as SOON AS POSSIBLE (today!) to add your name to the speakers list. This is your right as a citizen of Nova Scotia and is open to anyone who would like to comment on the legislation. The Chief Legislative Counsel is Mr. Gordon Hebb and the number to call is 902-424-8941 or by email at Legc.office@novascotia.ca

Download speaking notes and information about speaking at Law Amendments here.

You can see our press release on Bill 100 here.

If you cannot attend Law Amendments but wish to make a submission, you can do so by sending written comments by fax or by email to the Legislative Counsel Office at 902-424-0547 (fax) or legc.office@gov.ns.ca (email).

If you have any questions or concerns, contact the NSGEU by calling 902-424-4063 (toll-free 1-877-556-7438).

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