by Kyle Buott
President, Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council
1. Hundreds of cultural workers rallied downtown against the Liberals austerity budget. Speaker after speaker highlighted that they were not just against the cuts to the Film Tax Credit but that they stood in solidarity with all people and organizations affected by the Liberals horrible budget.
2. Shipyard workers with Unifor/MWF Local 1 held a short walk out at lunch today to protest that the Irving’s shipyard continues to ignore their collective agreement. The employer is also looking at disciplining the local union’s President and VP and are intimidating other union reps and stewards in the workplace.
3. Halifax Water has given notice to lock out water and wastewater workers across the Halifax Regional Municipality. Theoretically this means a lock out may begin Wednesday afternoon. The workers of CUPE Local 1431 and CUPE Local 227 will hold a solidarity action tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5 pm outside city hall.
4. The Public Service Alliance of Canada and other unions are organizing a “Welcoming Committee” for Stephen Harper when he arrives in Truro on Thursday. Rally at 6 pm in Truro outside the Cobequid Education Centre. Harper is not welcome in Nova Scotia!
5. The Liberal austerity budget is expected to pass tonight. Thanks to the work of activists around the city it has been delayed for over a week, but the Liberals will use their majority to force this austerity budget through. The Liberals ignored motions by the NDP to delay changes to the Film Tax Credit.