Efforts to hammer out a contract for Health Care workers just got a push.
The Nova Scotia Health Authority, IWK and unions representing health workers have agreed to use a mediation-arbitration process to resolve issues in their contract negotiations.
The agreement must first be approved by union members.
Minister of Labour Relations Mark Furey wouldn’t comment on why, after years of refusing to take negotiations to arbitration, they are willing to go that route now.
“I don’t want to get into the details because I’m very conscious of labour’s opportunity to reach out to their membership and ensure their membership is aware of the circumstances that we find ourselves in.”
The sides are trying to reduce the number of existing contracts from 50 down to eight.
And all parties have agreed to suspend the right to strike or lock out workers during this round of bargaining.
Conciliation talks will be taking place over the next two days.
