Make Nova Scotia work for workers

Skyrocketing costs on everything from groceries to housing have made life more difficult for Nova Scotia workers and their families. Unifor is calling for changes that will improve affordability, increase access to housing and health care, and that help workers get ahead.

Health Care

There are too many Nova Scotians without access to a family doctor. Paid, private clinics are no substitute for publicly funded, accessible primary care. We need to see investment in all health care workers’ compensation, from those who keep the hospital lights on to those who deliver your lab results. Importantly, we need a commitment to strengthen our publicly funded system and structures so good health care is accessible to all Nova Scotians.

Skilled Trades

There are currently too many barriers for workers pursuing certification in the Skilled Trades in Nova Scotia. Worksites across the province are hungry for workers but there remain unnecessary financial and logistical barriers to move through trades education that the government can and should quickly address. We need a government that won’t stand in the way of developing the next generation of Skilled Trades workers.

Workers’ Rights

Worker protections must be stronger to keep families secure. We need government to pass provincial anti-scab legislation to protect workers in provincially regulated workplaces in the event of a strike or lock-out.

Job action is used as a last resort and is meant to drive both parties back to the negotiating table as quickly as possible. It is an unjust advantage when employers can hand your job to someone else. The use of scabs is also proven to lengthen labour disputes and puts lives at risk as untrained workers take over unfamiliar jobs.

Affordability

The cost of living has skyrocketed. Unionized workers bargain stronger wages that lift everyone up, but more can be done for workers to keep their costs down. We need to see strong and effective programs from candidates that will deliver savings to all Nova Scotians, not just the wealthy.