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NDP kicks out rotten operator in Richmond County

Richmond County Home Support Services Society (RCHSSS) ousted after critical audit concluded it lacked leadership skills and abilities.

Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE)Halifax (26 Nov. 2009) – Home support workers employed by Richmond County Home Support Services Society (RCHSSS) are looking forward to an improvement in their working conditions, thanks to action taken by the province's NDP government.

The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) is welcoming a decision by the province's minister of health to contract an alternate service provider to manage the delivery of home support services in the county.


Podcast: Joan Jessome talks to Wendy Bergfeldt about Richmond County workers - mp3.

“We are pleased to see the government act on the information they received over a year ago by an independent audit of the RCHSSS,” says NSGEU president, Joan Jessome. “Our members have waited a long time for a resolution to the increasingly stressful situation in this workplace.”

Last summer, NSGEU made public an audit of RCHSSS outlining major problems with its operations. The union obtained a copy of the audit through a Freedom of Information application.

The audit outlined a "culture of blame" and strained labour relations, concluding that "RCHSSS is lacking the leadership skills and abilities to successfully meet the expectations of a small home support operation.”

“Part of the reason why RCHSSS will not be delivering home support services any more is because they needed to develop a respectful workplace and value the input and contributions of staff," Jessome notes. "Our members are very relieved that the government is acting on the audit’s recommendations."

The interim employer for the workers will be the Guysborough County Home Support Agency. It is expected to take about eight months to install a new organization to replace RCHSSS.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE

More information:
NSGEU wants action on RCHSSS home support audit