JUNE 2017 VOLUME I ISSUE 1 Quarterly Newsletter

CONTENTS

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CUPE Solidarity with Striking HTU Members PAGE 2

Borrow the CUPE NS Van CUPE Solidarity with Striking HTU Members Committee Election Results CUPE National Secretary Treasurer Charles Members raise funds CUPE raises $10,200 in support of striking HTU sisters Fleury announced that funds raised would for the CUPE Solidarity be matched by CUPE National. In all, Fund and the Mi'kmaq and brothers $10,200 was raised. Legal Support Network CUPE is encouraging members On May 31, delegates at the 54th annual to stop reading the Chronicle Herald and PAGE 3 CUPE Nova Scotia Convention in Truro cancel subscriptions. We also ask that were joined by Halifax Typographical Union members read the award-winning Local Members Elected to (HTU) Vice-President Frank Campbell, who Xpress, a “full service online news site” NS Legislature spoke about their labour dispute and the created by HTU members. n difficulties of trying to negotiate with an Delegates Vote on unreasonable employer that appears to Read Local Xpress at localxpress.ca.

Resolutions have no regard for workers’ rights or the quality of journalism in its publications. Join HTU on the picket line

Election Results – HTU members have been on strike now for Website: htu-cwa.ca. Click on “Calendar” to more than 500 days. Up until January 2015, CUPE NS Division find a location near you. the union had never been involved in a Executive labour dispute. The Chronicle Herald forced newsroom staff out on strike, replaced Donate to HTU PAGE 4 them with scab workers and refuses to fairly negotiate a collective agreement. Via Interac e-transfer to: Preventing Heat Stress Karen Ware Delegates at the convention lined up at Email [email protected] microphones to make donations, on behalf Health & Safety Award of their CUPE locals, to the HTU strike fund. Via cheque by mail to: The amount was topped up by the Division Halifax Typographical Union and CUPE National Secretary Treasurer P.O. Box 8064, Halifax, NS, B3K 5L8

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Committee Elections Results Borrow the CUPE NS Van

The following members were elected to Division Committees at the 54th annual convention in Truro on Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Political Action Committee Russell Ganaway Mark Cunningham Jacqui Giffen CUPE Nova Scotia is invested Carmie Erickson Women’s Committee in raising the profile of the Division and unions in general. Michelle Banfield Access to a van branded with Kelsie Croft our union message will help Nicole Barkhouse the Division and our locals KC MacPherson promote the value of unions Sharon Hubley and labour. The van will allow CUPE NS and its locals to have Congratulations to the members who a greater profile at rallies and were elected and all those who put their protests. name forward! n

CUPE NS locals can request to Human Rights Committee use the van to fight back against anti-labour Dwayne Tattrie governments by having a Donna McCarthy stronger visible presence at Anthony RileySteve Stewart community and political events such as Pride parades, festivals and Labour Day events. Locals can also use the van to raise awareness of Members raise funds for the CUPE Solidarity Fund CUPE NS, and promote and educate the public on the and the Mi'kmaq Legal Support Network value of unions and labour Throughout the Division Convention, the CUPE Nova Scotia Women’s Committee were hard within the province. at work, raising funds through a raffle and prize draws. On the final day of convention,

names were drawn for the prizes and the committee raised $622, which will be donated to A copy of a valid drivers’ the Mi'kmaq Legal Support Network, Victim Support Services. license for the assigned driver must be presented each time Many locals made generous contributions to the CUPE Nova Scotia Solidarity Fund, which is the van is signed out, and only used to assist locals who may require funding so they can send a delegate to a division the assigned driver will be convention. This year, locals contributed $4,310 to the fund. n permitted to drive the van. If the van is being used to transport 8 or more passengers, the driver must have a Class 4 license.

Visit the CUPE NS website for instructions and download the form at novascotia.cupe.ca/2017/06/14/ cupe-nova-scotia-van-policy. n

2 Quarterly Newsletter June 2017 Members Elected to We know they’ll do a wonderful job.” NS Legislature “We are also thrilled to have NDP leader Gary Burrill elected in . Election Results CUPE Nova Scotia congratulates former He will fight to protect the things that CUPE members Sue LeBlanc, MLA for matter most to workers and their CUPE Nova Scotia Division , and Tammy Martin, families, like hospitals, schools, and Executive MLA for , on their publicly-delivered services,” says election to the Nova Scotia Legislature in McFadgen. Nan McFadgen, president of the provincial election held May 30, 2017. CUPE Nova Scotia, was re- Four other union members ran in the elected at the union’s 54th “It is thrilling to see two incredible elections. Cheryl Burbidge, Ronald annual convention on May women elected to represent Nova Crowther, Glenn Walton and Jim Laverie 31, 2017. Scotians,” says Nan McFadgen, CUPE had excellent showings in the respective Nova Scotia president. “Having new districts of Kings West, Northside progressive voices in the legislature is Westmount, Halifax Citadel-Sable Island, service quality, infrastructure important for the future of the labour and Yarmouth. n maintenance, and the impact on movement in the province. workers, communities and the local economy, the detailed responses in this guide will equip municipalities to review the facts carefully before Delegates Vote on Resolutions entering into a P3,” explained Dr. Loxley, professor of economics at the University of Manitoba. Nova Scotia Needs a Raise Coalition. Delegated debated a range of issues and passed many resolutions at this year’s Other election results are as Division Convention, including support follows: for public water, support for a higher provincial minimum wage and increased • Dave Dort, recording public awareness against domestic secretary violence and intimate partner abuse, • Donna Vankroonenburg, among other issues. three-year trustee • Chris Melanson, vice- president, Halifax Delegates supported resolutions on the merits of public water and water justice. • Marcy Vacon, vice- CUPE Nova Scotia Global Justice president, Yarmouth Committee sponsored a resolution • Liz Paris, equity vice- encouraging locals to organize to declare president their municipalities “Blue Communities”

and to fight the bottled water industry.

CUPE Nova Scotia’s Women’s Committee

submitted the resolution on violence. Delegates told stories that underscored the urgency – and life or death nature –

of the issue, and the need for our union to keep working to prevent violence and support its victims.

Delegates engaged in many thorough discussions today, including the need to

increase the province’s minimum wage CUPE 227, meanwhile, brought forward the to $15/hour, a resolution submitted by call to continue to campaign for water CUPE Local 108. justice for indigenous communities, noting that 73 percent of Indigenous communities are at high or medium risk of waterborne Delegates supported the call for the contamination. Both resolutions passed. n union to continue to participate in the

3 Quarterly Newsletter June 2017 Health & Safety Tips

Preventing Heat Stress experiencing these symptoms should get standards set out in laws and regulations out of the heat before more serious are met, and should be consulted when CUPE members working outside should conditions develop. developing written policies. consider the effects heat can have on their health and safety. If you get too • Heat rash appears as red bumps on the Employers can reduce the effects by: hot, serious illnesses or even death can skin and can feel prickly. • Providing proper ventilation and air occur. • Heat cramps result from hard physical conditioning. labour in a hot environment. Heat cramps are caused by a lack of water. • Ensuring workers have adequate access When working in a hot environment, to water and are given adequate rest in a workers must stay hydrated. cooler or shaded area. • Heat exhaustion causes headache, • Shielding, insulating, or moving hot nausea, dizziness, blurred vision, surfaces away from the workplace. weakness, and feelings of excessive • Planning work to perform the hardest thirst. Usually a worker’s skin is damp tasks during cooler periods. and looks flushed. Workers exhibiting What causes heat stress? • Turning off equipment that generates these symptoms should be placed in a heat when it’s not being used. Heat stress is caused by high cool (not cold) area and given fluids. temperatures and high humidity, but is • Implementing a proper acclimatization • Heatstroke is a serious medical made worse by intense physical work, process for workers in hot emergency. Symptoms include direct sunlight, lack of breaks, or environments. confusion, irrational behaviour, loss of insufficient fluid intake. Poor consciousness, and convulsions. Often • Pregnant workers should consult a ventilation, or working near warm sweating ceases, leading to hot, dry- physician if asked to work in high heat machinery can also contribute to heat feeling skin. Workers can die from conditions. stress. Older workers, workers with a heatstroke. If you suspect a co-worker is pre-existing medical condition, and suffering from heatstroke, call For more info, see this fact sheet at workers unaccustomed to hot emergency responders immediately. CUPE.ca/health-and-safety/heat-stress. conditions are at greater risk. Other health and safety fact sheets are How to reduce the hazard of heat stress Watch for symptoms: available at Your workplace health and safety n • CUPE.ca/health-and-safety-fact-sheets Heat fatigue causes slow reactions committee can help ensure that minimum and impaired concentration. Workers

Health and Safety Award CUPE NS Health & Safety Facebook Group The CUPE Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Committee’s goal is to promote a culture that puts working safe in the forefront and empathizes returning home physically and mentally well at the end of the work day. Join the conversation on Facebook at facebook.com/CUPE-NS-Health-Safety.

Nominations open: National Health & Safety Award Do you know an individual who has made a significant Congratulations to Tracey Sullivan, member of CUPE Local health and safety contribution? CUPE’s National Health and 5047 – this year’s recipient of the CUPE Nova Scotia Safety Committee would like to hear from you. Submit Occupational Health and Safety Award! n nominations online at cupe.ca/cupes-national-health-and- safety-award-submit-nominations-online. n

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