Teachers, community colleges in Nova Scotia reach tentative agreement • Employment 'little changed' in April: StatsCan • SEIU, OHA spar over Ontario’s arbitration system • NSTU names new boss
Teachers, community colleges in Nova Scotia reach tentative agreement
HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) and Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) have reached a tentative collective agreement, according to the union. The agreement on behalf of faculty members employed by the college was reached on May 10, and NTSU provincial executive recommended acceptance of the agreement, which was reached after about 18 months of negotiating. The faculty bargaining unit includes 732 members who teach at NSCC campuses across Nova Scotia.
Employment 'little changed' in April: StatsCan
OTTAWA — Following a decline the previous month, Canada’s employment was little changed in April and the unemployment rate remained at 7.2 per cent. The country added 12,500 new jobs in April, according to Statistic Canada. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased 0.9 per cent, or 163,000, all in full-time work. The total number of hours worked rose by 1.5 per cent over the same period. In April, there were employment gains in manufacturing and public administration. These gains were offset by losses in transportation and warehousing, "other services" and business, building and other support services.
SEIU, OHA spar over Ontario’s arbitration system
TORONTO — SEIU Healthcare has heard the call from Pat Campbell, president of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA), that Ontario’s arbitration system is broken and needs to be fixed. It just doesn’t agree. SEIU said the award from the arbitrator called into question by Campbell was “fair and balanced” and included a modest increase for front-line staff in line with the cost of living. The union charged that CEOs at hospitals have billed for perks such as membership in gentlemen’s clubs, life coaches and weight-loss programs. It also pointed to public disclosures that showed one hospital CEO received an 81 per cent increase over the five years ending 2009; another took home $830,948 — a 24 per cent increase over three years; and another was paid $460,852, a 53 per cent increase over five years. At the OHA, Campbell said the arbitration system gave the SEIU a “consequence free ‘do-over’” and arbitration awards like these “reduce the incentive for broader public-sector employers and unions to act responsibly during bargaining.” The end result is hospitals are facing increased costs at a time they simply can’t afford them, and this could result in staff reductions that impact front-line patient services, she said. The OHA wants the province to introduce changes to the arbitration system that would compel arbitrators to fully consider the ability of hospitals to pay wage increases without eroding patient care, she said.
NSTU names new boss
HALIFAX — For the first in its 118-year history, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) has a woman at the helm. Joan Ling, executive staff officer for pensions, benefits and services, was appointed the new executive director by the provincial executive. Before joining the NSTU staff she was an elementary and business education teacher and administrator in Cape Breton, including being a former vice principal of Sydney River Elementary. She replaces Bill Redden, who is retiring at the end of July.
HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) and Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) have reached a tentative collective agreement, according to the union. The agreement on behalf of faculty members employed by the college was reached on May 10, and NTSU provincial executive recommended acceptance of the agreement, which was reached after about 18 months of negotiating. The faculty bargaining unit includes 732 members who teach at NSCC campuses across Nova Scotia.
Employment 'little changed' in April: StatsCan
OTTAWA — Following a decline the previous month, Canada’s employment was little changed in April and the unemployment rate remained at 7.2 per cent. The country added 12,500 new jobs in April, according to Statistic Canada. Compared with 12 months earlier, employment increased 0.9 per cent, or 163,000, all in full-time work. The total number of hours worked rose by 1.5 per cent over the same period. In April, there were employment gains in manufacturing and public administration. These gains were offset by losses in transportation and warehousing, "other services" and business, building and other support services.
SEIU, OHA spar over Ontario’s arbitration system
TORONTO — SEIU Healthcare has heard the call from Pat Campbell, president of the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA), that Ontario’s arbitration system is broken and needs to be fixed. It just doesn’t agree. SEIU said the award from the arbitrator called into question by Campbell was “fair and balanced” and included a modest increase for front-line staff in line with the cost of living. The union charged that CEOs at hospitals have billed for perks such as membership in gentlemen’s clubs, life coaches and weight-loss programs. It also pointed to public disclosures that showed one hospital CEO received an 81 per cent increase over the five years ending 2009; another took home $830,948 — a 24 per cent increase over three years; and another was paid $460,852, a 53 per cent increase over five years. At the OHA, Campbell said the arbitration system gave the SEIU a “consequence free ‘do-over’” and arbitration awards like these “reduce the incentive for broader public-sector employers and unions to act responsibly during bargaining.” The end result is hospitals are facing increased costs at a time they simply can’t afford them, and this could result in staff reductions that impact front-line patient services, she said. The OHA wants the province to introduce changes to the arbitration system that would compel arbitrators to fully consider the ability of hospitals to pay wage increases without eroding patient care, she said.
NSTU names new boss
HALIFAX — For the first in its 118-year history, the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) has a woman at the helm. Joan Ling, executive staff officer for pensions, benefits and services, was appointed the new executive director by the provincial executive. Before joining the NSTU staff she was an elementary and business education teacher and administrator in Cape Breton, including being a former vice principal of Sydney River Elementary. She replaces Bill Redden, who is retiring at the end of July.
