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The bargaining committee for Unifor is pleased to announce that members have voted to 92 per cent to ratify an agreement with NSHA and IWK to go to mediation and binding arbitration.
“Thanks to the support, solidarity and patience of members we can now see a light at the end of an extremely difficult round of negotiations, made more challenging by numerous pieces of government legislation,” said said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.
The agreement provides wage increases over a six-year term, protects current health, sick leave and retiree benefits for the Health Care, Nursing, Support Services, and Administrative Professionals employed in hospitals across the province.
“This gives us a path forward as it means that after three very long years, we will have collective agreements in place for all unionized acute care workers in Nova Scotia by the end of 2018,” said Linda McNeil, Unifor’s Atlantic Area Director, who represents the union on the executive council.
The Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions was formed with Unifor, CUPE, NSNU and NSGEU in 2015.
The four bargaining units will continue to negotiate with the employers. What is new under this agreement is that any issues that cannot be resolved at the negotiating table will be sent to an independent third-party mediator-arbitrator.
All four unions are looking forward to working with mediator William Kaplan, who will try to assist the parties to achieve agreement through mediation, but will render a final and binding award on the issues that are left unresolved.
For more information contact:
Jamie Pollock (President Unifor 4600) at @email or call 902-578-1564
Susan Gill (Unifor servicing representative) at @email or call 902-562-3857
Click here to read Media Release
Click here to read the agreement.
Click here for printable FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - Mediation Arbitration Proposal
How Did We Get Here?
It has been more than three years since the Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions was formed.
This Council is made up of Unifor, CUPE, NSNU and NSGEU. This Council is now responsible for bargaining collective agreements for all acute care hospital workers in Nova Scotia. In late 2017 the Council had experienced minimal progress and an almost complete shutdown at the bargaining table. A conciliator was then asked to intervene and yet still, no real progress was achieved. As a result of this, last week Health Care members gave their bargaining committee a 93% strike mandate.
After nearly 18 months of painfully slow progress at the bargaining table, the Unions are proceeding with a process that will conclude collective agreements for all four bargaining units by the end of the year.
What Is Mediation/Arbitration?
The agreement is a voluntary agreement for mediation / arbitration of issues outstanding after collective bargaining for each of the bargaining units. Even if this proposal is agreed to, bargaining will continue for a period of time. The appointed mediator will try to assist the parties to achieve agreement through mediation but will render a binding decision on the issues that are not resolved. The parties have agreed to use William Kaplan as the arbitrator. Kaplan shall be the mediator for all four bargaining units.
Mediation/ arbitration means there will be no strikes.
Will The Bargaining Committees Still Be Required To Negotiate?
Yes, each council will be going to the table, on an expedited schedule with deadlines to conclude each agreement by the end of the year. The mediator/arbitrator would make a final and binding award on all outstanding issues in dispute by the end of the year.
Will There Be A Further Voting Process For Collective Agreements ?
No. Agreed items become part of the arbitration award, and would therefore be binding.
What Are The Terms Of The Agreement?
Mediation / arbitration of issues not resolved in bargaining.
Increases pay rates over a 6-year term (the contract would expire October 31, 2020)
A schedule for completion of all four collective agreements by the end of 2018
What About Pay Increases?
- Increase of 1% on November 1,2016
- Increase of 1.5% on November 1,2017
- Increase of 0.5% on October 31,2018
- Increase of 1.5% on November 1,2018
- Increase of 0.5% on October 31,2019
- Increase o 1.5% on November 1,2019
- Increase of 0.5% on October 31,2020
- 5th Unit increases are all 5 months later
What About Early Retirement And Sick Pay?
Agreement includes option of early payout of retirement allowances accrued up to March 31, 2015 at salary in effect on October 31, 2017.
If there is no agreement on sick pay and retiree benefits through the bargaining process or mediation, the arbitrator must award status quo as in the expired agreements
