Latest news with #CUPEAtlanticCommunications
Montreal Gazette
2 days ago
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
CUPE NL Stands in Solidarity with Air Canada Flight Attendants
CUPE NL Stands in Solidarity with Air Canada Flight Attendants For more information, please contact: Sherry Hillier President, CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador 709-765-2996 Taylor Johnston CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative tjohnston@ Haseena Manek CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative hmanek@ CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador stands in solidarity with flight attendants employed by Air Canada and demands the government respect their right to strike. "It's absolutely disgraceful that so much necessary and vital work flight attendants do before and after each and every flight is unpaid," said CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador President Sherry Hillier. "No one should be working for free. Full stop." Flight attendants are only paid when the plane is moving, and work as many as 35 unpaid hours a week performing vital duties that ensure the safe and smooth operation of each flight. Now, instead of paying flight attendants for the work they do, Air Canada is threatening to lock out their employees and disrupt the travel plans of thousands of Canadians. Our elected representatives must support workers' rights to free and fair negotiations and collective job action. These rights are protected under both federal and provincial legislation and have been affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. If our lawmakers at the highest level have determined the right to strike to be "indispensable," Air Canada must respect that. "Air Canada is manufacturing a crisis instead of coming to the table and bargaining in good faith," continued Hillier. "It's clear they hope the federal government will step in just like they did with Canada Post and force flight attendants back to work. We can't let that happen. We need to stand with flight attendants, as we do with all workers, and protect our Charter guaranteed right to strike." :so/cope491 This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM.
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Union: Houston once again investing in private profits
While we understand that Nova Scotians are struggling with lack of access to mental health and addiction support, CUPE Nova Scotia does not believe that selling more of our health care to private companies is a solution. 'There's no doubt that Nova Scotians need improved and expanded access to mental health services,' said CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen, 'but why are we investing this money in private, for-profit companies instead of the already existing mental health services run by our public health care system?' 'The workers are at the end of their rope,' said CUPE 8920 President Dianne Frittenburg 'Mental health workers province-wide are overwhelmed. There just isn't enough time in the day to help everyone. They've been asking for help only to be told that the much-needed support is going to private businesses instead.' The Houston government's announcement specifically outlined that public money, meaning tax dollars paid by everyday Nova Scotians, would be used to fund private-sector professionals. They committed to hiring 50 clinicians in the first phase with an end goal of 250 in two years. All 250 would come from the private sector. 'I can't imagine there are 250 clinicians in Nova Scotia in the private sector that are able to take on more patients right now,' continued Frittenburg, 'which means these clinicians are either going to be taken from the public sector or be brought in from other provinces and countries. That is not a solution and leaves our current mental health workers high and dry.' 'We've seen this before. Government promises to expand a public service but instead of investing in our public system, they invest in private companies and our province suffers. Companies are invested in their bottom line, not the health of Nova Scotians,' said McFadgen. 'Houston might claim there is no cost, but there is. We've already paid for this with our tax dollars.' Historically, public-private partnerships, or P3s, are initially less expensive as bids for the new tender are purposefully kept low. However, in the long run, P3s end up costing both the government and the taxpayer more money for a lower quality of service than a functional public system. 'If Houston really wants to help, he has to invest in our public health care system. That's what will help Nova Scotians, not lining some CEO's pockets with our hard-earned tax dollars,' finished McFadgen. :so/cope491 (902) 759-3231 Dianne Frittenburg CUPE 8920 President 902-521-7782 Taylor Johnston CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative SOURCE: CUPE Nova Scotia Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 02/10/2025 02:34 PM/DISC: 02/10/2025 02:33 PM
