By Robert Devet It’s been a long and difficult battle for justice for former HRM firefighter Liane Tessier, but this coming Monday the City of Halifax and Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency will finally issue an apology. As well, Tessier will receive a settlement of an undisclosed amount. Tessier was an ambitious volunteer firefighter who Continue reading#MeToo Halifax firefighter vindicated
Nova Scotia
By Judy Haiven On Remembrance Day morning, I drove to a gas station near downtown Halifax to fill up the car for a trip to the Annapolis Valley At the cashier’s counter a woman customer said, “wish me luck. I have to work today and it’s going to be busy.” She said she worked as Continue readingBosses breaking the law on Remembrance Day
By Robert Devet Efforts are well underway to establish a Workers Action Centre in Halifax, something that could make a big difference for low wage workers who do not enjoy the protection of a union. Workers Action Centres educate workers about their rights, and support workers who are being cheated or discriminated against by their Continue readingWorkers Action Centre, fight for decent work coming to Halifax
By Robert Devet Overworked and not paid enough, food service workers at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) campuses in Dartmouth and Halifax set their minds on joining a union. Earlier this month the 25 or so Chartwells workers voted on joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2. SEIU Local 2 represents more than Continue readingNova Scotia food service workers cook up a union
By Larry Haiven On Tuesday, August 22, the provincial government enforced the Public Services Sustainability Act (Bill 148), imposing a four-year wage package on 75,000 public employees. Even at current low rates of inflation, this could result in a real wage cut of about 7%. In addition, the Act peremptorily removes a long service award Continue readingPremier McNeil’s Bill 148 takes us back to the dark ages
By Frances Willick My Herald colleagues voted on August 10 to accept a deal after a year and a half on strike. For many — most, I dare say — this is little cause for celebration. Yes, it brings a much-needed resolution to this toxic situation. But the toll it has taken is deep. Unless you’ve been on Continue readingReflections on the Chronicle Herald strike
By Robert Devet “This is really hard on us,” says Tom Ayers, a striking Herald reporter based in Sydney, Cape Breton. Ayers traveled to Halifax for the occasion after a supporter offered to pay for gas and take his spot in the picket line. “The worst part is the uncertainty. My car is reaching the Continue readingRally marks 511 days on picket line for Chronicle Herald workers
By Christine Saulnier The upcoming provincial election has thrust into the spotlight various debates about how to best address poverty in Nova Scotia: wage increases, social programs, tax-based incentives, or a job. Recently, the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party announced that, if elected, it would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2020. In May Continue readingThe politics of anti-poverty policies in Nova Scotia
By Robert Devet The acquisition of 27 papers in four Atlantic provinces by the SaltWire Network Inc., a newly formed parent company of the Chronicle Herald, is bad news for readers and newsroom workers both. And it’s a low blow to the Chronicle Heraldworkers who have been walking the picket line for 16 months. Owner Continue readingBad for readers, bad for newsroom workers
By Kelly Shiers Thirteen-month-long strikes seem to run in my family. It is (thankfully) an exclusive club in Nova Scotia, where strikes tend not to take years to resolve. But I find myself a member — along with 55 colleagues, writing for Local Xpress, urging consumers to boycott advertisers, and walking a picket line along Continue readingOn strike 13 months, a daughter follows in her dad’s footsteps
By Robert Devet For days and weeks the Nova Scotia Teachers Union dominated the headlines. But after the government imposed a new contract all that disappeared. What actually happened? Why did it matter? What’s next? The Nova Scotia Advocate met with Larry Haiven to ponder these three simple questions. Haiven is a professor emeritus in Continue readingWhat is next for Nova Scotia’s teachers?
By Suzanne MacNeil, President of the Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council Today, 9300 Nova Scotia public school teachers, with Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU), will be on strike for the first time in its 122-year history. The strike will be a one-day walkout. Teachers from across the province will be picketing at the legislature, where Continue readingStriking Nova Scotia Teachers are making history