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On March 27 the Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions (Unifor, Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees, and the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union) requested that the Nova Scotia Labour Board settle outstanding issues and finalize an essential services plan for the IWK Health Centre. The Labour Board has 30 days to hear submissions from both the employer and the Council of Unions and reach a conclusion.
“It is time for us to send a strong message to the employers and government that we expect them to take collective bargaining and the Council’s proposals seriously,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director. “Engage in meaningful negotiations and complete a new collective agreement.”
The Council of Unions’ bargaining unit has been frustrated in its efforts to reach an essential services plan, determining how many employees must remain on the job in the event of a strike, which meets the needs of its members as well as ensures the health and safety of patients. Consequently, they are using the process provided under the Essential Health and Community Services Act to empower the Labour Board to resolve the issues.
Meanwhile, after a year and a half of bargaining, the employer has now tabled proposals that would move employees to any region of the province and negatively impact sick leave as well as health and dental benefits. The Council of Unions remains committed to reaching a fair deal for their members and will continue to work to do so through conciliation with the two health care employers, IWK and the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
