September 23, 2010 -

On September 6, 2010 Labour Day celebrations were held around the province.

Hundreds attended the Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council rally and parade.

August 23, 2010 -

Farmers Boycott over

The workers at Farmers Dairy (CEP Local 40N) have ratified a Collective Agreement with the employer, and have requested that the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour & its affiliate unions end the boycott of Farmers Dairy products.

Congratulations to the members of CEP Local 40N in standing strong throughouta lockout that lasted more than five weeks.

June 21, 2010 - The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour in partnership with Higgins General Insurance is pleased to offer its sixth annual bursary in the amount of $1000.00. This bursary will be offered  to a full-time student who will be attending university or trade school/community college for the first time or as a returning student. To download an application for the Muriel Duckworth Memorial Bursary, click here.

To download an application for our five other bursaries, click here.

May 5, 2010 - NSFL First Vice-President Joan Jessome laid a wreath at the Day of Mourning ceremony held at Province House on April 28th. She also spoke at the event along with Canadian Labour Congress Execurive Vice-President Barb Byers and Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council President Kyle Buott.

Other ceremonies were held around the province sponsored by the the Annapolis Valley Labour Council, the Strait Area Labour Council, the South Shore Labour Council and the Cape Breaton District Labour Council and the Town of New Glasgow.

NSFL president Rick Clarke and CAW Local 1 & NSFL General Vice President Karl Risser at the Halifax Shipyard speaking with Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris. On February 25th, the Dexter Government announced a $20-million investment in the Halifax Shipyard to help create jobs. The investment is a repayable loan and will be used to modernize and upgrade infrastructure to increase competitiveness.

January 12, 2010 - Federation President Rick Clarke urges NS government to honour wage parity. More...

November 16, 2009 - Highlights from 45th Federation of Labour Convention

Convention News, October 26

Convention News, October 27

Convention News, October 28

NSFL Press Release, October 28, 2009

April 24, 2009 - Day of Mourning Ceremony, Pictou County

Day of Mourning ceremony to be held at Trenton Park, Tuesday April 28, at 6pm.

There will also be a wreath laying ceremony, if any locals are interested in taking part.

February 27, 2009 - Federation of Labour's response to the latest Minimum Wage Review Committee Report. Read...

Other documents related to our submission:

Response to 2008 Minimum Wage Review Committee Report

CCPA-NS paper, "Hard Working Province: Is It enough? Rising profits and falling labour shares in Nova Scotia"

January 16, 2009 - Canadian Labour Congress "Get Real: It's the Economy" campaign.

December 17, 2008 - Over 2000 Members of the Union of Postal Communications Employees (PSAC) are on strike across Canada. Read what is going on across the country and find out how you can help Halifax workers on the picket line.

UPCE STRIKE BULLETIN– Day 30

Adopt a Picket Line

Pizza Party

Direct result of strike on CPC operations

December 3, 2008 -

Let's Make Parliament Work!

HALIFAX INDOOR RALLY
for a COALITION GOVERNMENT NOW!

Thursday December 4th
5:30pm to 7:00pm

POSTER...

December 1, 2008 -

Click Image

November 18, 2008 - The Canadian Labour Congress has called a boycott against Petro Canada.

Letter from CLC President, Jen Georgetti

Letter from CEP National President, Dave Coles

October 3, 2008 - Federal Election ’08, Get Involved! This election is about our jobs, our pay cheques, our families and our futures.

Read Federation President Rick Clarke's letter to affiliates.

September 3, 2008 - Airlines: Support CUPE flight attendants

CUPE flight attendants are fighting for their jobs as Air Canada plans to slash 300 jobs in Vancouver, 187 in Halifax and 144 in Winnipeg. Flight attendants bases in Halifax and Winnipeg would be closed. Click on the CUPE link below to help, by circulating and signing a petition and sending a letter to your MP.

September 1, 2008 - Canadian Labour Congress Executive Vice-President Marie Clarke Walker and Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke at Labour Day celebration organized by the Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council.

Canadian workers have finally won new legal protection for their wages and their pension contributions when their employer goes bankrupt.

This was accomplished after an intensive three-year campaign by the Canadian Labour Congress and its affiliated unions and federations of labour to change bankruptcy laws that unfairly put workers last line to get paid.

To print the English PDF version, please click the link below

http://canadianlabour.ca/index.php/media/1302

September 4 , 2007 CHECK IT OUT!

www.dontmakehealthshortagesworse.ca

May 9, 2007 Day of Mourning April 28, 2007

“As we gather today to remember, mourn and pay tribute to the twenty- two Nova Scotian workers who lost their lives due to workplace injury or illness; we must also use this Day of Mourning to commit to take real steps and measures to make our workplaces safe and healthy for all workers,” said Nova Scotia Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke.” Far too many workers are being killed or injured on the job every year, a fact everyone is only to well aware of but again today we mourn the loss of twenty-two workers. If we hope to see a cultural change to improve workplace safety and health it is up to government, business and labour to take up the challenge and to work together to make it happen.”

“Workplace accidents and fatalities have a devastating impact on families, workplaces and communities and workers their families and there communities are depending on us, collectively, to do what is necessary to provide resources, tools and legislative/regulatory support to ensure a workers can return home from work at the end of the day safe and healthy.” Said Clarke “They deserve nothing less."

May 9, 2007

First-ever workshop on bullying in the workplace held on April 27 for labour representatives, employers and government

With a new provincial regulation on workplace violence recently passed, The N.S. Federation of Labour, in partnership with the Workers' Compensation Board and the Department of Environment and Labour held a workshop which focused on identifying, assessing, investigating and intervening in cases of bullying and harassment.

Over 150 employer and union representativers attended and 200 people were on a waiting list.

From left to right: NSFL President Rick Clarke, Minister of Environment and Labour Mark Parent and workshop facilitator Denise Koster.

NSFL First Vice-President Joan Jessome looks on as Canadian Labour Congress Executive Vice-President Barb Byers talks to participants. Beside Barb, from left to right: NSFL President Rick Clarke and Minister of Environment and Labour Mark Parent.

November 20 , 2006 GrowthWorks Atlantic Venture Fund is a labour sponsored Venture Capital Fund. It provides its shareholders with extra tax breaks. All the money invested stays in Atlantic Canada, where it helps to build new jobs and support already established businesses in the area. Click the site to learn more!

http://www.growthworks.ca/funds/atlantic/

December 21 , 2006 New Year’s Message from Nova Scotia Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke Read On...

August 31, 2006 - Labour Day Message from Federation President Rick Clarke... Read on

Labour Day March 2006

August 10, 2006 - Check out the latest Update for info on Labour Day events across the province and public meetings/conference being hosted by our Federation of Union Retirees Read on...

May 25 , 2006 Check out the new Council of Canadians website dedicated to the fight against privatization

http://www.profitisnotthecure.ca/

February 21, 2006 CEP Local 972 represents over 700 members of Clerical, Main Mill, and Woodlands divisions of Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Main Mill and Clerical workers have been locked out by Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury since January 26, 2006.
Check out the latest news on their website CEP Local 972

All unions, affiliates, associations, and general public are invited to attend and take part in this show of support and Solidarity.

Our CEP Building is located at 323 Reeves Street, which is between the Dairy Queen & the Anglican Church, Port Hawkesbury, NS.

“Please Park at Anglican Church Parking Lot through entrance off of Pitt Street”

March will start promptly at 2:00 pm. from Union Parking lot down Reeves Street and back, and will be followed by some speakers back at Union Hall afterwards.

Dress warm and bring your banners, signs, flags, friends and families.

“If You Don’t Stand For Something – You Will Fall For Anything”

If more information is required, or you have any questions or concerns you may contact:

Tom Mc NamaraPh # (902) 625-1245 – Union Office
Fax#(902) 625-5943 – Union Office
E-mail: cep.972@ns.sympatico.ca

Also you may want to check our new Web Site: www.cep972.ca

For further information contact: Pauline Raven (902) 542-3085; (902) 670-2949 (cell), or John Jacobs (902) 477-1252

January 17, 2006 Looking Ahead to 2006

In 2005, we worked on many issues important to Nova Scotians, including: much-needed reform of the province’s labour laws; occupational health and safety, immigration, health care, workers’ compensation, employment insurance, pensions, human rights and anti-racism issues, women’s issues, child care, youth and social justice issues.

Our minority government structure lets us work with the parties towards positive change for Nova Scotians. We have made some gains this year and we look forward to continuing to work within this structure.

In addition to their daily work, worker representatives, through the Federation of Labour, sit on many government boards and committees that deal with issues that affect us all. One of these is the Minimum Wage Review Committee, whose work resulted in a fair increase, not what we had hoped for, but it is a start and our efforts will continue.

We intensified our efforts for government to advance and enact regulations pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Act currently sitting in backlog -- OHS regulations are an intricate part of workplace health and safety and government must act.

Health care continues to be a high priority; Nova Scotians want the problems with health care addressed and the system expanded and sustained, ensuring that public dollars are used exclusively for public, not for-profit health care.

We were pleased to see the government pursue the Provincial Immigration Strategy; for immigration, along with training for our youth and the current workforce, will be as important factors in our future as they have been in our history.

We have also called on the Nova Scotia Government to participate in a national childcare and early learning system and to take the approach of community-based non-profit delivery in its agreement with the federal government. We believe this is the best approach that will enable Nova Scotia to meet the social needs of its children and their families.

Job security and contracting-out have been major areas of concern and dispute at the bargaining table this year and if the trend continues, 2006 could be an interesting year, for workers are not going to willingly see their job and family security taken away.

2006 is looking like another busy year as we continue to advance these issues and increase the focus on other matters such as; youth employment, the growth in precarious jobs, high cost of post-secondary education and other factors that contribute to the plight of the working poor.

Politically, 2006 is going to be a very interesting and important year for Canadians and for Nova Scotians, we are currently in the midst of a federal election and all indicators point to a provincial election later this year, possibly late spring or summer.

Thanks to a minority government in Ottawa we have seen some positive changes that we believe are good for people and for Canada in general.

We have seen a re-investment in our social programs; wages, benefits and pensions are better protected when companies go bankrupt; childcare is a program instead of a promise; training for workers is now high on the list of federal priorities not to mention how close we came to seeing anti-scab legislation adopted.

We liked this balance of government at both the provincial and federal levels; for the benefits achieved have been good for people and their communities and we will continue our political action and activities, attempting to secure more changes that benefit peoples’ lives.

There are many issues and challenges facing us as we head into the New Year, and we truly believe we have many opportunities before us, opportunities that are achievable through working together.

We are committed to a just and fair society and we are equally committed to working towards these goals in the interest of all Nova Scotians.

The work we do every day not only benefits our 70,000 affiliates and their families, but all Nova Scotians. We have worked hard for change and we will intensify our efforts in 2006 to make life better for all Nova Scotians.

October 31, 2005 Updates from the 43rd Nova Scotia Federation of Labour Convention

Monday October 24, 2005 Convention Update
Tuesday October 25, 2005 Convention Update
Wednesday October 26, 2005 Convention Update

Who will help build a better society for all Canadian working families?

Click to learn more about Better Choices.

Better Choices Update January 6, 2006.

To find out what each of the political parties – Bloc, NDP, Liberals, Conservatives or Green – are saying about the issues of major importance to Canadian working families – health care; pension protection; pay equity; education, training and skill development; good jobs; workers’ rights; child care; and international trade – visit the Better Choice 2006 web site www.betterchoice.ca.

In addition to an analysis of party positions, you will also find downloadable fact sheets on each of the major issues, in-depth background papers, links to many other useful sites and a daily commentary on what the political parties are saying.

This election, be informed to make a Better Choice!

The Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council is holding a march and picnic starting at 10:30 am at the South Commons Triangle (by the Willow Tree) at the Commons in Halifax.

The Cape Breton District Labour Council is holding their Labour Day picnic event from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at the Sydney Boardwalk behind the Civic Building, Sydney.

The New Glasgow and District Labour Council is holding their event at Steeltown Park in Trenton from 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm.

Origins of Labour Day

Nova Scotia Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke lays a wreath at the ceremony

Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton

May 9 , 2005 Workers send message to Walmart that workers in Canada have a right to unionize! A great crowd gathered at Wal-Mart in Halifax on Saturday, May 7 to greet shoppers and hand out "Mal-Wart" coupons, to help raise awareness of Wal-Mart activities. This event was co-ordinated by the CLC in conjunction with similar actions across the country. For more information, please visit www.canadianlabour.ca or http://www.ufcw.ca/.

The strike by 1400 members of CUPE Local 5050 which represents janitors, bus drivers and other support staff with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board is nearing at the end of its second week.

Speaker after speaker at the rally repeated the call for governments intervention to end this dispute.

Nova Scotia Federation of Labour president Rick Clarke called on Premier John Hamm to intervene in the labour dispute, which the government has refused to do.

New Democrat Leader Darrell Dexter promised to raise the issue next week when provincial politicians return to the legislature for the spring sitting.

April 12, 2005 "We want fair treatment for workers under the Canada Labour Code" - Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke joined Bloc Québécois MP Carole Lavallée in calling on Liberal and Conservative MPs to support Bill C-263, the Anti-Strike Breaker Bill when it comes to a vote on April 13. The support of all 54 Bloc Québécois MPs and 19 NDP MPs is guaranteed.

From left to right: Federation of Labour President Rick Clarke; MP for Saint-Bruno-Saint-Huburt Carole Lavallée and CLC Representative Paulette Sadoway at today's press conference.

June 13, 2005 Happy 20th anniversary to the Strait Area District Labour Council
On May 28th, the Strait Area District Labour Council held an anniversary dinner and party to celebrate 20 years of activism within the labour movement and the community. Activists came from around the province to join the Executive of the Labour Council in marking this important occasion.

Federation President Rick Clarke brought greetings and congratulations.


Cutting the cake, from left to right: CLC Representative Paulette Sadoway, Strait Area District Labour Council President Judy Castle, 1st VP Walter Henwood, Treasurer Betsy MacIntyre and Secretary Ronalda MacGillivary.

• February 8, 2005 Build child care - Federal, provincial and territorial politicians are meeting behind closed doors on February 11 in Vancouver to work out details on a pan-Canadian child care system. We want to make sure they build the best possible system. Check out the CLC information. For your information, in Nova Scotia, the Minister Responsible for child care is David Morse, Minister of Community Services, 8th Floor, Nelson Place, 5675 Spring Garden Rd., Halifax, N.S., B3J 2T7. Fax: 424.0549. Email: morsedm@gov.ns.ca

December 10, 2004 On December 10, The Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council gave its Human Rights Awards...

(From left to right Halifax Dartmouth and District Labour Council President/NSFL General Vice-President Cheri Meehan, award recipients Betty Peterson and Beatrice Douglas, Marcella Shears, Carlotta Weymouth and Rick Clarke.)

On December 10, The Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council gave its Human Rights Awards to Beatrice Douglas, member of the Nova Local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and long-time labour activist and to Sister Betty Peterson long time peace activitist and founder of the Raging Grannies.

Sister Douglas received her award in recognition of her accomplishments as a labour activist and her dedication to the understanding of human rights and her contribution to labour movement and society. Sister Peterson in recognition of her long and outstanding commitment to peace, equality and human rights for all.

The awards were presented by Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL) Anti-Racism/Human Rights Chairperson and Labour Council Secretary Marcella Shears and Committee member and Labour Council Vice-President Carlotta Weymouth.

NSFL President Rick Clarke, Canadian Labour Congress Representative Paulette Sadoway and CUPW Nova Local President John Buckland spoke after the presentations.

“Sister Douglas and Sister Peterson make important contributions to their communities and the labour Movement and we are proud to work with such dedicated people,” said Rick Clarke.

“I commend the Labour Council for their wonderful choice of recipients,” Clarke said.

• February 18, 2005 Please join us for the federal budget watch on February 23, 2005. Click here for more details!

The Federation’s Off-Year Conference in Sydney November 20 - 21 was an intense two-day session during which delegates looked at five critical issues that face labour today:

-ensuring the relevancy of unions

-organizing the unorganized

-the fight for free collective bargaining

-organizing the organized and social change and community solidarity.

With over 90 delegates registered, workshops were lively and delegates gave valuable input on the topics which will form the basis of a report and recommendations , which, when complete, will go to the NSFL Executive Council.

Thank you to all the delegates who took time out of their busy schedules to participate and help make the conference a success. President Clarke's opening comments to delegates.
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December 6 , 2004 Click on billboard for more information

November 26, 2004 Nova Scotia fares poorly among Atlantic neighbors on measures of child poverty <more

• November 22 , 2004 15 Days, 15 Ways - Campaign to end violence against women calls on the Prime Minister.

• November 12 , 2004 A Day of Rememberance- Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council is holding a special event on December 6, 2004 <more

• September 24, 2004 Have your say on immigration
  
  The Province has recently released a Discussion Paper entitled "A Framework for Immigration" now in consultation, a process in which we will be participating. In fact, we anticipate that we may be hosting or co-hosting a roundtable on this very important matter.

  As we are in the process of reviewing this matter in conjunction with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in preparation of our presentation, we would appreciate receiving a copy of your comments on this issue.

  This is a very topical matter and a very important one and it is indeed one that we collectively must show our interest in and put forward our opinions.

  This is not only important for those who may wish to come to our fine country and province, but it is equally important to all Nova Scotians. We have a chance to have input into this important matter and we must provide that input.

• September 2, 2004 PSAC - National Parks and Historic Sites Strike
  We have been providing all possible support to the workers of our National Parks and Historic Sites who have been forced to take strike action against their employer which in essence is the Government of Canada.
  These workers have been forced into strike action while trying to secure or improve some very crucial areas that are important to all of us.
  Among the outstanding issues are job security, whistleblower protection, and a wage and benefit package which would close the gap between their counterparts in other public and private sector workplaces.
  We have already written to all Nova Scotia MP's calling for their support in getting the government back to the bargaining table to negotiate an acceptable resolve to this dispute.
  These workers can use your support visit their picket lines join the call to get the government back to the table.
  For more and direct information on the strike click here

• October 5, 2004 Sunday shopping will hurt the working poor <more

• October 14, 2004 Sunday Shopping won't cure what ails us <more

• October 12, 2004 We have received the following list of union members who are running in the upcoming municipal elections October 16, 2004. For more information on the Sunday Shopping Plebiscite, Municipal Polling Districts Maps etc. go to Municipal and School Board Elections - Local Elections 2004 . These are the candidates we are aware of to date. If you have additional names for our list please contact us.
  
  PSAC
  Debbie Kelly-Halifax District 11
  Henry White-Dartmouth
  John Couture-Sydney
  Theresa Halfkenny-Amherst

NSGEU
Steven Michael Barkhouse-District 8 Councillor
H. Gordon Anderson-School Board Pictou County

CUPE
Steven Blackmore, CUPE Local 108 - Halifax Regional Council, District 20
Charlie Long, CUPE Local 759 (Retired) - Cape Breton Regional Municipality, District 10
Linda Gregory, CUPE Local 835 - Municipality of Digby, District 3
Leona Mosher, CUPE Local 835 -Town of Digby
Jim Laverie, CUPE Local 835 -Municipality of Yarmouth, District 1
Andy Baxter, CUPE Local 964 - Tri-County Regionasl School Board, District 6
Donnie MacDonald, CUPE Local 1867 -Antigonish County, District 2
Blair George, CUPE Local 1867 -Municipality of Guysborough, District 4
Rod Murphy, CUPE Local 2272 - Municipality of Argyle, District 2
Lawrence Muise, CUPE Local 2272 - Municipality of Argyle, District 5
Bruce Hubbard, CUPE Local 2272 - Municipality of Argyle, District 1 (Acclaimed)
Earl Babin, CUPE Local 2272 - Municipality of Argyle, District 4
Liz Paris, CUPE Local 2330 - Chignecto-Central Regional School Board (Acclaimed)
Linda Moore, CUPE Local 2525 - Town of Amherst
Terry Rhindress, CUPE Local 3890(Retired) - Town of Amherst
Todd MacPherson, CUPE Local 5050 - Cape Breton Regional Municipality, District 3

• September 1, 2004 Labour Federation hopes Aliant workers and company reach a resolve.

• July 14, 2004 Support stiking Aliant Workers! To make a donation please forward cheques made out to:
  ......................................CATU Flying Pickets Fund
  50 Akerley Blvd, Unit 7 ............................................1077 St. George Blvd, Suite 440
  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia ...........................................Moncton, New Brunswick
  B3B 1R8 ............................. ............. ....... ................E1E 4C9

• August 9, 2004
  Union Label week
  From September 8th to 10th, you can visit the Union Label booth at MicMac Mall Dartmouth in centre court from 9 am to 9 pm.
  
  This is the 20th year that Donnie Waye, an NSGEU retiree, has been in the booth promoting union goods and services.
  
  An enormous amount of work goes into the organizing and set-up of this union label event and we congratulate Brother Waye for his dedication to the labour movement.
  

• August 11, 2004 John Jacobs of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Nova Scotia (CCPA-NS) weighs in on the Aliant strike <more

• June 25, 2004 On Wednesday June 23, 2004 the AC&TWU had a rally and BBQ for support of striking Aliant workers. Several guest speakers spoke to the approximately 2500 in attendence. For more on the Aliant Striking workers...more

• June 17, 2004 Nova Scotia Worker Update June 2004 ... more

• June 25, 2004 In comparing the platforms of the three major parties the CLC gives the NDP platform top marks.

• June 15, 2004 The CCPA released a report on Friday entitled "Can they pay for what they say? A pre-election comparison of the Conservative, Liberal, and New Democratic platforms," by economists Ellen Russell and Sheila Block ...more

• May 10, 2004 Brief to the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour re: Averaging Provision... more

• April 27, 2004- April 28th - Day of mourning ceremonies to be held at Province House and across the province ... more

• April 23, 2004 - Budget 2004 - Labour Federation says minority government can work for Nova Scotians ...more

• April 15, 2004 - Nova Scotia NDP Press Release "Legislature passes Dexter's resolution to keep Frame out of Nova Scotia"

• April, 2004 Literacy Newsletter April, 2004

• April  1, 2004
  There are alternatives to user fees and privatization says labour federation ...more