A day after the Premier said he’s open to amending the Memorial University Act, the official Opposition is calling for an emergency debate in the legislature.
The Tories say they’ll support giving MUNFA representation on the board of regents. Here’s NTV’s Ben Cleary with more on that.
Today was day two on the picket line for striking university professors.
There’s been no movement towards a deal, but MUNFA says support is growing for their cause, especially from people who have to cross the picket line to go class.
NTV’s Bailey Howard reports.
Premier Andrew Furey also weighed in on the university strike today.
One of the main sticking points is faculty representation on the board of regents. The premier said he would commit to amending the university act. NTV’s Ben Cleary reports.
Talks between Memorial University and the faculty union representing 800 members, reached an impasse today.
With a strike deadline just hours away, the universities faculty union says unless something happens in the next couple of hours – the picket line is the next stop. NTV’s Marykate O’Neill reports.
It was a day of twists and turns Monday as the House of Assembly reconvened for an emergency debate on the three-day private ambulance strike. First, the NDP delayed the debate. Then, the striking ambulance workers offered a partial return to work, but their employer refused. NTV’s Ben Cleary reports.
Striking ambulance workers moved their picket line to Confederation Building ahead of today’s emergency debate in the House of Assembly. NTV’s Marykate O’Neill was there.
With a strike date set for next Monday, Memorial University’s Faculty Association returned to the negotiating table with the administration bargaining team today.
NTV’s David Salter has more in this report.
The provincial government has asked for an emergency debate in the House of Assembly to make private ambulance workers essential. MHAs will return to their seats Monday morning.
The news came just a day after more than 100 first responders took to the picket line. NTV’s Ben Cleary reports.
Premier Andrew Furey has asked for the House of Assembly to reconvene Monday to hold an emergency debate on the private ambulance strike affecting rural Newfoundland communities.
The House will debate the Essential Ambulance Services Act. If passed, the act will make private ambulance services essential. Striking members of Teamsters Local 855 would have to return to work until an essential services agreement is in place, at which point the labour action could resume.
More than 100 private ambulance workers in rural Newfoundland communities escalated their strike by walking off the job Friday. Teamsters Local 855 leader Hubert Dawe says it came after a hostile act by an employer against a union member. The companies owned by Bob Fewer cover areas from Fogo Island on the northeast coast to Trepassey on the southern shore of the Avalon to Stephenville on the west coast.
The Speaker’s Office says the House will reconvene at 10 a.m. Monday.
The legislation has not been made public yet, but the provincial government provided background information in a news release:
The Essential Ambulance Services Act
The Essential Ambulance Services Act will allow the employer and employees to determine the terms of the essential ambulance services agreement, and will allow them to engage with the Labour Relations Board when necessary — including authorizing the Board to refer a matter to binding arbitration to protect the employees’ meaningful right to a strike and the employers’ meaningful right to a lockout. When passed, the Act will require the union members to return to work until an essential services agreement is established, at which point labour action may resume.
To date, only ambulance services provided publicly, through the Regional Health Authorities, fall under such legislation. Paramedics employed by private ambulance service operators fall under the Labour Relations Act and have thus far not been deemed essential.
More than 100 workers with seven private ambulance services in rural Newfoundland walked off the job at noon Friday.
Teamsters Local 855 leader Hubert Dawe says it came after a hostile act by an employer against a union member. The companies cover areas from Fogo Island on the northeast coast to Trepassey on the southern shore of the Avalon to Stephenville on the west coast.
NTV’s Ben Cleary reports.
