Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

(Halifax) Striking employees of the Halifax County Regional Rehabilitation Centre (HCRRC) will descend on Peter Christies Bedford constituency office Monday morning.

About 80 employees of the Rehab Centre have been on strike since July 5th. The major issue in the dispute is severance for employees who have lost their jobs now that the Hamm government has closed the facility.

They want the community services minister to intervene in the dispute to resolve the severance issue. Christies department is the sole funding source for the Rehab Centre.

(ASSIGNMENT/PHOTO EDITORS: The demonstration will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday July 15 at Peter Christies constituency office, 1350 Bedford Highway, across from the old train station. Theyll also be unveiling a new, 20-foot banner.)

Some Rehab Centre staff and clients have been moved to a temporary facility at Sunrise Manor. Media reports this week featuring interviews with family members of some of those clients, detail rapidly worsening conditions at the Manor.

Yesterday, HRM Councillor Ron Cooper who is also the Chair of the Board for the non-profit society that runs the facility (Quest) told a local TV station he believes the displaced workers are being treated unfairly by the provincial government.

The union is arguing that the workers should have access to the governments Transition Support Program (TSP), just as NSGEU members, Nova Scotia Highway Workers (CUPE Local 1867), Mother House employees and others have had.

Many of the displaced CUPE employees have over 20 years service at the center and face the prospect of losing their jobs with no severance or retraining options.

For information:
Linda Thurston-Neeley, CUPE National Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (o) - (902) 452-9979 (Cell)
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (o) - (902) 222-8457 (Cell)