On October 31, Bill C-201, a private members' bill introduced by NDP MP Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain), had its first reading in parliament. This bill introduces a "construction mobility tax credit" that  would help construction workers cover their travel costs when relocating temporarily to take on short-term construction jobs. Specifically, the bill would amend the Income Tax Act so that  tradespersons and apprentices could deduct travel and accommodation expenses from their taxable income so that they can secure and maintain employment at a construction site that is more than 80 kilometers away from their home. The existing tax exemptions related to remote work sites apply only to those workers who are provided lodging at these sites directly. There is no similar provision for the majority of construction workers who travel to obtain work. 

At a time when some regions of the country suffer from high unemployment while others suffer from temporary skilled labour shortages, this bill offers a solution to both. 

During that first reading, Conservative MP Gerald Keddy (South Shore-St. Margaret's Bay) rose to speak against the bill. (Read what Mr. Keddy had to say here.)

Please educate yourself about Bill C-201 and contact your local MP to let him or her know that you support this private members' bill, which could benefit the many Atlantic Canadians who travel for work.

Local 1928 members at Nova Scotia Power have been working hard since October 17 (when NSP made its announcement of its intention to outsource whole functions within its unionized workforce) to educate MLAs and friends and neighbours about impacts on service and reliability for customers, and about the possible consequences on the Nova Scotia economy with an outmigration of skilled workers, particularly Cape Breton and rural communities on the mainland.

Jeff Richardson, Business Manager for Local 1928, met with CBRM mayor Cecil Clarke yesterday and with other media outlets on the Island to make the case to protect NSP workers in Cape Breton. Read the article in the Cape Breton Post here.

Some of you may have seen a commercial on TV for the new Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) media campaign, called "Together Fairness Works," launched October 21. This campaign will remind Canadians of the positive things that the labour movement is all about, which is in essence a better life for everyone. In the context of what is happening with Nova Scotia Power's announcement of oursourcing jobs, this is a particularly timely message for the people of this province. Please share the link to this Youtube video widely---on Facebook, by Twitter, by email:

Watch the "Sunny" CLC video

There will likely be outside construction work in Nova Scotia on the Maritime Link project, which is tied to the Muskrat Falls capital project in Newfoundland and Labrador. There is a project agreement for the work in Newfoundland. In Nova Scotia, the project owner NSP Maritime Link (also referred to as Emera Newfoundland), has negotiated a similar type of agreement with IBEW International and Local 1928. Every contractor hired by NSP Maritime Link will have to work under the terms of this agreement. Construction members have been mailed a summary of this tentative agreement and the full text is available in the Members section of the website. Voting will take place on November 14 and 15.

Three additional special meetings have been set up for next week in the eastern part of the province. The first is in Stellarton on Tuesday the 29th, at 7:00pm. Port Hawkesbury is Wednesday the 30th at 4:30pm and Sydey is Wednesday the 30th (yes, the same day) at 7:30pm. All meetings are taking place at the usual locations.

In anticipation of a good turnout, the location for the unit meeting in Halifax this Thursday, October 24th, has been changed to the Comfort Inn, across the street from the union hall on Chain Lake Dr.