NSGEU Union Matters

Local 100 President, Laura MacMillan, interviews Stephanie Conway about their role as a Physician's Assistant at the Nova Scotia Health Authority during Allied Healthcare Professionals Week 2023.

In this episode, Laura MacMillan, President of Local 100, introduces us to Shariff Azher, an Orthopaedic Technologist who works at the Dartmouth General. We learn about his education, his work, and what brought him from Ontario to Nova Scotia. Thank you Shariff, for your work and your dedication to improving the lives of Nova Scotians. We appreciate you!

In honour of Allied Healthcare Week, Board member and Health Care Worker, Laura MacMillan, interviews Suhil Abu-Zaid who works as a Medical Laboratory Technologist at the Mackenzie Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They discuss the requirements for the job, what the work is like and why he loves it. Thank you Suhil for all you do!

The first week of November is Allied Healthcare Professionals Week! Our host, Holly Fraughton, sits down and chats with a Medical Laboratory Technologist, Conor Porter, about the work he does behind the scenes within our health care system.

Union Matters' host Holly Fraughton and President Jason MacLean take a journey through some of the highlights of 2019 and into some of the challenges our members are currently facing and what lies ahead for 2020.

The range of topics includes: our new NSGEU Educational Program; Health Care bargaining; OHS issues for our Corrections Officers and members working at the East Coast Forensic Hospital; our fight to win paid domestic violence leave; NSGEU Committees and campaigns, such as Sock it to Poverty, the Lodge that Gives, Cancer Care Fund, and Period Poverty; our current campaign against P3 hospital builds; changes at the WCB; LPN reclassification; Northwood computer virus mayhem; layoffs at Emerald Hall; and more! It's an hour long, but worth every minute - so listen in.

Union Matters host Deedee Slye interviews Deputy Sheriff Kevin Hurst about the Pink Patch Project which brings awareness to and support for Breast Cancer. In the podcast, Kevin discusses why they embarked on this initiative (the first in Canada) and how he created our distinctly Nova Scotia pink patch.. If you are interested in purchasing a patch in support of breast cancer awareness, email Kevin at [email protected].

The President of the National Union of Public & General Employees (NUPGE) sits down with host Mary Otto to discuss his personal history with the organization and the labour movement; issues facing unions today, and much more!

Host Mary Otto discusses NSGEU's resolution for a week that recognizes the important work Healthcare Professionals do for Nova Scotians. Mary's guests are fellow health care workers, Peter Perry, an Anaesthesia Assistant in Local 122 and Laura MacMillan, an Orthopaedic Technician in Local 100. Join in to hear why we need an Allied Healthcare Professionals Week!

Host Deedee Slye interviews Patricia Wall - a navigator for the recently created Office of Workplace Mental Health (OWMH), an initiative of the NSGEU and the Public Service Commission (PSC). The Office provides support to NSGEU members who work for the PSC, Tourism Nova Scotia, or Nova Scotia Pension Corporation, all members who belong to the Nova Scotia Public Service LTD plan.

Navigators help employees identify and connect with the mental health resources and services they need in a confidential manner. They also help leaders and managers create safe and supportive workplaces.

The Office’s three mental health navigators are located throughout the province. Patricia supports members who live and/or work in the Western region.

Host Mary Otto, interviews Sébastien Labelle about the history and activities of Mayworks in Halifax. Listen in and find out more about this festival of workers art. Mayworks happens annually, on and around May 1st.

Mary Otto is a proud member of Local 43, Canadian Blood Services and on the NSGEU Political Action Committee.