*Updated to include Minister Furey’s comments
Health care workers in Nova Scotia and their employers have come to an agreement.
The six year contract is retroactive to 2014 and will run through 2020.
It protects key benefits and provides wage increases over that term.
The deal also includes a mediation arbitration process.
Councils of Unions vote 92% to ratify agreement with @HealthNS and @IWKHealthCentre #nspoli https://t.co/CSA9GA9hK4
— NSGEU (@NSGEU) May 18, 2018
NSGEU President Jason MacLean says having an arbitrator involved will help move talks forward.
“I’m just really, really, looking forward to the process because I believe this is the fairest that things ever would be.”
The mediation arbitration process will conclude all collective agreements for the four bargaining units in Health Care, Nursing, Support Services, and Administrative Professionals by the end of the year
MacLean says that what’s most important for residents, is there will be no disruptions in service as both sides have agreed not to strike or lock the other side out during negotiations.
“I think this is the best thing for our membership and for Nova Scotians. Now we can get focused on fixing health care, ’cause that’s been our focus since day one.”
Over 50 collective agreements are being negotiated down to eight because of the reorganization of the former regional health authorities to one provincial body and the IWK.
Mark Furey, the minister responsible for labour relations is pleased to have this agreement in place.
He says a lot of the heavy lifting has already been done around a number of key issues.
And this arrangement will help the two sides finalize those contracts.
“We will find a solution that works for both labour and our health authorities and allow services and health service to continue, bring stability to that work environment.”
Furey feels the majority of the contract can be negotiated without going to arbitration.
“Well there’s been elements where both labour and the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK have agreed. We’re confident that with the continued negotiations we can address most of what were outstanding issues.”
Both sides have agreed to work towards completing all contracts by the end of the year.
Reported by Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
