The Nova Scotia Government Employees Union now has a new leader.
Jason MacLean was declared president of the NSGEU on Saturday at the union’s convention. MacLean is a married father of two from Sydney, N.S.
MacLean has been a member of the NSGEU since 1999 and works as a corrections officer. He takes over as president from Joan Jessome, who held the top spot for the last 17-years.
Jessome announced in December that she would not be seeking another term as president of the union.
MORE: Joan Jessome, president of NSGEU, stepping down in May
“Joan has been great. She’s been a mentor of mine. I’ve worked with her the last 13-years. I’ve learned a lot from her,” MacLean told Global News shortly after the results were declared.
Jessome said it felt “kind of surreal” to be at the annual convention and not put her name forward as president, but is confident MacLean can do the job.
WATCH: Joan Jessome gives advice to Jason MacLean
“The job itself is not a physical job, it’s a mental job. It’s a job where you need to make decisions and take ownership of the decisions. You need to make them for the right reasons and you need to be able to defend them,” she told Global News.
MacLean says the biggest issue facing the NSGEU currently is being able to have an open dialogue with the provincial government.
WATCH: Jason MacLean speaks with Global News.
“My goals and hopes are just to create a better Nova Scotia and have better work conditions, better work wages and not be apologetic on people making good money,” he said.
MacLean will take a leave of absence while he serves as president of the NSGEU.
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