Danny Cavanagh announces that he will retire after 45 years of pioneering labour representation in Nova Scotia

With a career spanning over four decades of labour representation, Danny Cavanagh, President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour (NSFL), is announcing his retirement after 45 years. Cavanagh has decided not to reoffer for the position of Federation President at the upcoming October convention. Cavanagh’s journey began in March 1980 as a municipal worker and a member of CUPE 734 in Truro. With his commitment and passion for worker rights in his local union, he rose through the ranks, in and outside his union. He eventually served as the Truro and District Labour Council President and then as the CUPE Nova Scotia president from 2005 to 2015. He also served as CUPE’s provincial representative on CUPE’s National Executive Board before assuming the Presidency of NSFL in October of 2015. He also sits on the Canadian Council of the Canadian Labour Congress representing Nova Scotia workers nationally for the last 10 years. 

Beyond his leadership roles as a union leader, Cavanagh has provided invaluable expertise to multiple provincial committees and boards. His roles have included serving on the province’s Minimum Wage Review Committee and the Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee. He also sat on an economic advisory committee and acted as an advisor to Employment Insurance for the Dexter government. He spent several years as chair of the Literacy Nova Scotia board and on the Community Credit Union board. He is on the Halifax Workers Action Center board, the Nova Scotia Health Coalition, and the Nova Scotia Action Coalition for Community Well-Being. He is also a long-time member of the Nova Scotia New Democratic party, serving on its provincial council. Danny was also a long-standing Bible Hill Volunteer Fire Brigade member, serving from 1984 until becoming an honourary member in 2016 with 32 years of service in many roles within the brigade, and was recognized as Firefighter of the Year in 1986. 

He was honoured by former Nova Scotia Premier John Savage as a ”Champion of Workplace Literacy,” and received the CUPE National Literacy Award. He also received the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, recognizing his commitment to advocating for workers’ rights. Throughout his nearly two decades of leadership in the provincial labour movement, he has consistently advocated for workers to expand their influence and steadfastly opposed policies workers perceive as lessening worker rights or the downsizing of public services. The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour is the province’s largest labour organization, representing the interests of over 70,000 members from every sector of the economy.