The president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) says he’s tired of the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) ‘playing’ when it comes to negotiations.
Jason MacLean says some 6,500 health care employees in the province have been without a contract for four years.
“(Premier) McNeil created the Nova Scotia Health Authority and his creation is not taking workers seriously and we’re already in crisis in the health care system.”
NSGEU is the chief negotiator for the Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions, which encompasses NSGEU, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the Nova Scotia Nurses Union, and UNIFOR and represents the 6,500 employees.
A province wide strike vote is planned in response to issues the bargaining unit has with negotiations between them and their employers – NSHA and IWK.
According to MacLean, negotiations between NSHA and the bargaining unit have been ongoing for a year and have slowed.
He says new proposals from their employer have been put on the negotiating table as recently as two days ago.
And he says they particularly take issue with one proposal that would see employees moved wherever the health authority chooses.
“We know our members will not want to do that, why build a house somewhere when your employer can just pick you up and move you somewhere else?”
According to a release from NSGEU, the bargaining unit is concerned with some benefit clawbacks, though MacLean wouldn’t elaborate on specifics.
MacLean says the sooner the contract is settled, the sooner focus can be put on other issues with the health care system.
He also adds that the group will not strike illegally and will settle an essential services agreement before taking any job action.
Each of the unions will conduct their own strike vote in April though a date has not been set yet.
Negotiations have been ongoing for a year and will continue throughout April and May.
