halifax Water
workers fi le
strike notice
haliFaX — Unionized employees at
Halifax Water served the Minister of La-
bour with a 48-hour strike notice.
The employees — represented by the
Canadian Union of Public Employees Lo-
cals 227 and 1431 — announced their in-
tention to withdraw services and urged the
employer to return to the bargaining table.
Local 227 represents 230 outside work-
ers with Halifax Water. Local 1431 repre-
sents 105 inside workers with the utility.
"The last thing our members want to do
is go on strike, but this employer has put
our backs to the wall with their demand
for major concessions to a pension plan
that we've built up over two generations of
workers," said CUPE Local 1431 president
Heather Corkum.
"Our objective now is to resume bar-
gaining and find a sensible solution to this
labour dispute. It will take both parties,
however, bargaining in good faith to reach
that goal."
In addition to issues over the pension
plan, the union said wages continue to be
a stumbling block in bargaining. Nego-
tiations surrounding wages and pensions
also prompted the parties to vote in favour
of strike action in December 2014.
The union said it is
willing to
go back to the bargaining table beyond the
48 hours designated by the strike notice,
saying "the ball is now in the employer's
court."
government of
canada proposes
enhanced
compassionate
care benefi ts
OTTaWa — The federal government re-
cently announced a proposal for increased
financial support for individuals taking
care of sick family members.
The benefits — commonly known as
compassionate care benefits — are pro-
vided through the employment insurance
program and are available to individuals
temporarily away from work to care for
family members facing a significant risk of
death.
Effective Jan. 3, 2016, the proposed en-
hancements would allow claimants to col-
lect up to 26 weeks of benefits. Currently,
employees are eligible to claim a maxi-
mum of six weeks.
Under the proposed enhancements,
employees would be able to take benefits
within a period of 52 weeks, expanded
from the current period of 26 weeks.
Additionally, employees would be able
to share the benefits between family mem-
bers.
The proposal was made through the
2015 Economic Action Plan (EAP). The
plan would invest up to an additional $37
million annually in expanding compas-
sionate care benefits.
"Our government is committed to sup-
porting Canadian families, especially in
times of need," said Candice Bergen, min-
ister of state for social development.
"Every family can experience difficult
periods of illness and loss. These changes
ensure that families are able to care for
their loved ones when needed."
lAboUr brieFs
2
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lAboUr lens
Teachers in Marseille, France, participate in a nationwide protest against new measures aimed
at revamping the country's school system. Unions representing teaching staff largely oppose the
reform, saying it will increase competition between schools and exacerbate inequalities.
