This debate is an informative, direct and important discussion in the ongoing debate about the crisis of Nova Scotia power rates, and the yearly loss of hundreds of millions of public investment dollars.

You can listen to the entire debate with this audio player.

Please also see these prior Nova Scotia Power related Labour Council website posts:

SolidariGlee Sings “Emera’s Profiteers”

Listen to SolidariGlee tell the story of the sell-off of Nova Scotia’s power company by Conservative party Premier Donald Cameron, and what it has meant to our provincial economy, in a hilarious but serious song about the “Emera Profiteers”.

Resolution Against Nova Scotia Power Rate Increases

Labour Council passes a resolution against power rate increases.

Resolution Against Nova Scotia Power Rate Increases

The Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council will publicly oppose Nova Scotia Power’s proposed power rate increases, which are designed to fund corporate investors profits.

Because, Nova Scotia Power has had six rate increases (ranging from 3.3% to 9.4%[1]) in the last ten years and workers, their families, and our communities are feeling the squeeze.

Because, Nova Scotia Power is dragging its feet on developing new green technology and creating green jobs.

Because, electricity should be a public right, not a private, for-profit monopoly.

Resolution in Support of the Quebec Student Strike

The Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council stands in solidarity with students in Quebec, and across Canada, in their struggle for free education.

Because, the cost of post-secondary education is quickly rising beyond the means of workers and their families.

Because, students in Quebec are standing up for public services and have waged an ongoing 13-week strike to protect public education.

Because, education is a right, and should be universally accessible for all, from early childhood education and P-12, to post-secondary and adult education.

Calling All Shop Stewards and Local Union Officers!

• Have you ever been called a troublemaker at work?
• Are you sick of getting pushed around at work?
• How about tired of grievances and arbitrations that don’t solve the problem?
• Wanna learn how to fight back and enforce the collective agreement on the shopfloor?

Come Raise a Little Hell and pre-register today for the Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council’s Troublemakers’ Conference!  Email President@HalifaxLabour.ca to pre-register.

Mark the date, Saturday, October 27th at the Italian Cultural Centre on Agricola St.

More details and full agenda coming soon.  There will be a small registration fee.

Why a Conference?

•  Because workers across industries and sectors are facing unprecedented attacks at the bargaining table.
• Because the arbitration process is broken, expensive and stacked in favour of the employer.
• Because racism, sexism, bullying and other form of discrimination are still the norm in our workplaces.
•  Because workers didn’t create this economic and budget crisis, and we won’t pay for it.
• Because its time to stand up and fight back!

Our Goals

• To bring together more than 100 front-line shop steward and local union officers for a day long conference about how to fight back on the shop floor.
• To form a Shop Stewards Network in the Halifax Regional Municipality that will facilitate communications and strategies between workplaces, helping create a culture of solidarity between all workers.

 Why the Word “Troublemaker”?

Whenever we stand up for our rights at work, we are called a troublemaker by management.

Whenever we speak out against discrimination, we are called a troublemaker by management.

Whenever we win a grievance, or encourage a fellow worker to file a grievance, we are called a troublemaker by management.

In fact, whenever we stand up for ourselves and our co-workers, we are called a troublemaker.

Time to own it. If the boss thinks we are troublemakers for standing up for our rights already, [...Continue reading Troublemakers Conference – Oct 27, 2012]]]> http://halifaxlabour.ca/?feed=rss2&p=1356 0 http://halifaxlabour.ca/?p=1349 http://halifaxlabour.ca/?p=1349#comments Tue, 01 May 2012 12:31:04 +0000 Kyle Buott http://halifaxlabour.ca/?p=1349 For Immediate Release May 1, 2012

 Capitalism Still Isn’t Working For Workers

Halifax, NS – The Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council wishes the workers of the Halifax Regional Municipality a happy Mayday.  May 1st is International Workers Day, a celebration of the working class and an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a better world for all.

“Mayday reminds us that a better world is possible.  Today, around the world, millions of people will mobilize, rally, strike, make art, and demonstrate for a more just, equal, and compassionate society,” says Kelly Murphy, Executive Vice President of the Labour Council.

The recession that began in 2008 isn’t over.  Employment levels have not recovered, and wages are stagnating.  Workers and their families are feeling the squeeze.

But instead of making the big banks and corporations who crashed the economy in the first place fix it, government’s are using the Shock Doctrine to justify a dramatic transfer of wealth from the working class to the ruling class. Today in Canada, 61 billionaires own more wealth than double the bottom 17 million Canadians.  Governments and employers are employing austerity capitalism and slashing wages, cutting services, raiding pension plans, conducting mass layoffs, and setting us backward in the struggle for pay equity.

In September 2008, the Labour Council voted unanimously to adopt the slogan “Capitalism Isn’t Working For Workers”.  Today that slogan still rings true.

“Capitalism still isn’t working for workers,” says Kyle Buott, President of the Labour Council. “Only the eradication of capitalism, and its replacement with a democratic, Socialism-for-the-21-Century alternative can liberate the working class.”

The Labour Council, various affiliates, community organizations and Occupy Nova Scotia will hold a march and rally to, beginning at 12:00 noon at Grand Parade, in front of City Hall.  The Labour Council also sponsors Mayworks! Halifax – A Festival of Working People and the Arts, and there are still some events left in this year’s calendar, a full list at www.MayworksHalifax.ca .

Happy Mayday from the 25,000 affiliated, unionized members of the Halifax-Dartmouth [...Continue reading Mayday Statement]]]> http://halifaxlabour.ca/?feed=rss2&p=1349 0