OTTAWA (CP) — Conservative senators are making a bid to cut short debate on private members' business just as the Senate is about to revive debate on a controversial bill that would force unions to publicly disclose details of their spending.

The timing of the two moves has sparked suspicions that the Harper government wants to whisk bill C-377 through the Senate, avoiding the scrutiny that prompted senators, including 16 Conservatives, to gut the bill the first time it came before the upper house.

In June 2013, the Senate sent C-377, sponsored by Conservative MP Russ Hiebert, back to the House of Commons with amendments that effectively eviscerated the bill, which critics have called unconstitutional, undemocratic and an invasion of privacy.

However, Prime Minister Stephen Harper prorogued Parliament before the House of Commons could consider the amendments and, in accordance with rules for reinstating legislation following prorogation, the bill wound up back in the upper chamber in its original form.

- See more at: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/22326-bill-c-377-revived-senators-move-to-limit-debate#sthash.HsJvQ5bL.dpuf

The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour is holding a series of town hall meetings on federal issues for trade union activists and local leaders. These town halls are designed to determine the major federal issues our members are facing and to begin building capacity toward the 2015 Federal Election. The labour movement across the country is preparing to defend our members’ interests and hold the Harper government to account. From health care to employment insurance, from the right-to-strike to issues at the bargaining table, we want to make sure folks know what is going on and get feedback on which issues should be part of Labour's campaign. The town halls will be discussion-based and everyone is encouraged to participate. All town halls take place from 6pm to 8pm.

South Shore - Tuesday, September 23, Best Western, 527 Highway 10, Cookville: In Main Convention Centre

Valley - Monday, September 29, Old Orchard Inn, 153 Greenwich Road South, Exit 11, Highway 101, Wolfville: Salon A

Truro - Tuesday, September 30, Glengarry Hotel, 150 Willow St., Truro: Salon D

Yarmouth - Wednesday, October 1, Rodd Grand Hotel, 417 Main St., Yarmouth: Clare/Argyle Room

Sydney - Thursday, October 9, Holiday Inn Sydney,  300 Esplanade, Sydney: Mariner A Room

Halifax - Tuesday, October 14, NSGEU Office, 255 John Savage Drive, Dartmouth, Convention Centre

Antigonish – Wednesday, October 15, St. FX University, Antigonish: Conference Room A, Keating Centre

Amherst – Tuesday, October 21, Wandlyn Amherst, Cumberland Room

The Nova Scotia Department of Energy has announced dates for a series of public consultation sessions that will take place from Yarmouth to Sydney this fall, beginning next week. Meetings will include an open house, an interactive presentation by Energy Minister Andrew Younger, a workshop to gather information from the public, and a Q&A session with the Minister. Open houses will start 30 minutes prior to each meeting’s listed start time. A live webcast in French and English will take place on October 15th at the Halifax meeting at the Dalhousie Student Union Building. The department says more information will follow on its website. See below for a complete schedule of session dates/times/locations.

After a week-long vote conducted electronically, the members of the NSP bargaining unit of IBEW Local 1928 voted to accept the terms of a settlement that commits NSP to not outsourcing the work of regular employees for ten years in exchange for closure of the existing defined benefit pension plan to new entrants (the DB pension was closed to new entrants on the non-union side in 2012). The result was 68.4% in favour of the agreement. 66% of the membership voted.

Just over twenty-four hours left in the week-long electronic vote for NSP bargaining unit members on MOA re: outsourcing. Note that if you have NOT received your voting package in the mail and you think you should, it is likely that the union has the wrong address for you (or you have never actually joined the Local). Call the union hall to get assistance and to review the source documents. Please exercise your right to vote.