February is African Heritage Month in Nova Scotia, also recognized as Black History Month in Canada, the United States, and several European countries. The theme of this years African Heritage month is “Legacy in Action: Celebrating Black Brilliance”.

Nova Scotia is home to 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities, each with a profound and complex history spanning over four centuries. African Heritage Month provides a special opportunity to celebrate the culture, legacy, achievements and contributions of African Nova Scotians, both past and present. This theme will shine a light on the living legacy of Black Nova Scotians, honouring the impact and perseverance of the enduring community by highlighting the greatness, the paths, the deep connection with elders, storytelling, the rhythms of change, and the ability to look back to move forward. 

The Black Employee Resource Group (BERG) at Nova Scotia Power will be hosting the following celebrations and educational events during the Month of February:

• African Heritage Month Flag Raising – February 4^th at 12:00 in the Downie Wenjack Legacy Space on the Boardwalk Level at 1H
• Power to Learn with Guest Speaker Dr. Kevin Hewitt. More Details to come - Keep an eye out for an invite!
• 2025 African Heritage Month Reading List HERE! 
• More!

The Black Cultural Centre is a great resource for learning more about Black brilliance in Nova Scotia.

Update: Successful Negotiations and Strike Conclusion

IBEW Local 1928 and the Region of Queens Municipality Reach Agreement

After months of ongoing negotiations and efforts, IBEW Local 1928 and the Region of Queens Municipality have reached a collective agreement. The agreement was ratified by our members, officially marking the end of the strike action.

We want to extend our deepest thanks to our hardworking members, their families, and the entire Liverpool community for their unwavering support during this challenging time. To the local businesses, fellow unions, and all who donated their time and resources, your solidarity was invaluable, and we couldn’t have achieved this without you.

A special thanks to the councillors and mayor for their efforts in helping negotiations move forward and achieve a fair deal. We couldn’t have done it without your involvement.

This was a fight worth fighting, and we are satisfied with the outcome and collective agreement we secured. We consider it a win for our members and the entire community. 

We will continue to support and stand strong for our members.

Thank you again for standing with IBEW Local 1928 every step of the way!

Notice of Strike Action - IBEW Local 1928

January 10, 2025, Liverpool, NS – IBEW Local 1928 initiated strike action yesterday, Thursday, January 9, 2025, after submitting a Notice of Intended Strike Action on December 20, 2024. At 7:30 a.m. yesterday, IBEW members set up picket lines at municipal buildings in response to ongoing contract negotiations with the Region of Queens Municipality (RQM).

In response to this strike action, the Region of Queens Municipality implemented a lockout of IBEW members, effective immediately at 8:00 a.m., 30 minutes after the picket lines were set up.

What is a Strike?

A strike occurs when workers, represented by a union, refuse to work in order to protest working conditions, wages, or other terms of their employment. In this case, IBEW Local 1928 members have initiated a strike to address key issues in their contract negotiations with the Region of Queens Municipality.

What is a Lockout?

A lockout is when an employer prevents workers from coming to work during a labor dispute. This is typically done in response to a strike. In this case, the Region of Queens Municipality has implemented a lockout of IBEW Local 1928 members in response to the strike action.

Both actions are legal ways for workers and employers to show their positions while negotiations continue. 

Key Issues at the Table

Wage Increases: IBEW members are seeking fair wage increases that reflect the current cost of living and the important role they play in providing services to the community.

Weekend Work for Straight Time: The Region of Queens Municipality has proposed that weekend work be compensated at straight time (not overtime). IBEW members believe this proposal does not fairly compensate employees for the time and effort they dedicate to serving the community, particularly when working weekends.

Union Busting: The Region of Queens Municipality has removed temporary employees from the collective agreement, which affects the unity and strength of our union. Temporary employees play a crucial role in the workforce and deserve the same protections as all other members. IBEW Local 1928 is committed to ensuring that all workers, including temporary employees, have their rights protected and respected.

How You Can Support Striking Workers

You can show your support for IBEW Local 1928 by:

• Sharing this message to raise awareness about the issues our members are fighting for.
• Joining the picket lines to stand in solidarity with our workers.
• Contacting local officials to express your support for fair wages and working conditions for all municipal workers.

Next Steps

IBEW Local 1928 is committed to continuing negotiations with the Region of Queens Municipality to reach a fair resolution. 

We appreciate your support and understanding as we work toward an agreement that respects the hard work and dedication of our members.