Union holds rally after N.S. ends Out of the Cold operations
Hundreds of people attended a rally outside Nova Scotia Province House on Tuesday after the government ended Out of the Cold operations at two modular housing sites earlier this month.
Out of the Cold, a housing association, said the Department of Opportunities and Social Development told them on July 7 their services were no longer required at their modular sites on Cogswell Street in Halifax and Church Street in Dartmouth.
Earlier this month Out of the Cold told CTV News Atlantic it provided supportive housing to 63 adults.
'The representatives from the Department of Opportunities and Social Development provided us with a letter that outlines several 'critical concerns' that 'have not been addressed,' or have been 'inconsistently or insufficiently addressed,'' Out of the Cold said in a written statement. 'We are deeply concerned that the way this has transpired, and a potential change in model with have severe consequences for the population OTC has been honoured to serve for almost two decades.'
Modular housing
Out of the Cold operated modular housing sites in Dartmouth and Halifax. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic)
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2 said the closure of the sites left 42 workers without jobs.
At Tuesday's rally, it called on the provincial government to meet with the workers to plan a transition to keep the community safe and require a new service provider to offer employment to experienced workers who have 'fostered relationships with residents.'
'The workers are not refuting concerns around mismanagement, but say that if mismanagement was the concern, this is not the way to go about fixing the situation,' SEIU said in a news release.
Out of the Cold said it would ensure employees are fully paid for hours worked, vacation and severance. SEIU said workers have not received 'concrete information' about pay.
More to come…
Rally
Hundreds of people attended a rally for Out of the Cold at Nova Scotia Province House. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic)
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
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