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Arbitrator Jim Dorsey must balance a bad law (Bill 1) that calls on him to divide health care workers into four unions (Unifor, CUPE, NSGEU, NSNU) while considering labour law principles he outlined in an interim decision in January.
That interim decision said unions could come together to form amalgamated unions in the four bargaining units decreed by Bill 1, but such an act would require all the unions to participate in some serious give and take. Unifor has pushed from the beginning for an approach that involved collaborative bargaining. Unifor represents about 10 per cent of the entire acute care sector in Nova Scotia.
“Our goal from the beginning was to find a solution that enabled Unifor members to remain proud Unifor members,” said Atlantic Regional Director Lana Payne, noting that the past year has been one of great uncertainty for health care workers in the province.
“This legislation pitted worker against worker and union against union and ignored the fact that Unifor members had chosen their union when they exercised their freedom of association rights.”
Unifor has continued to have dialogue with the other unions even though the hearings concluded. If a proposal can be reached, it will be submitted to the arbitrator in final submissions.
Dorsey is set to give his final decision February 20.
