Nova Scotia talks break down over job security

NSGEU recommends rejection of the government's offer and sending all outstanding issues to binding arbitration for resolution.

Halifax (27 May 2010) - Talks between the province and the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) have broken down over the key issue of job security.

While the government is promising to implement a 10% public service cut by 2013 through attrition and voluntary departures, drastic cuts are nonetheless planned without any meaningful job security being offered to employees, the union says in an update to members.

"The employer has not tabled substantive job security language that would protect the membership from involuntary departures," NSGEU adds.

"We remain determined to achieve job security and needed improvements to the collective agreement. The Civil Service Union Negotiation Committee (CSUNC) will be making a recommendation to the Civil Service Bargaining Unit Negotiating Council (CSBUNC) that the union reject the employer’s final offer and refer all outstanding matters to arbitration."

The Nova Scotia public service does not have the right to strike. Arbitration is the mandated dispute resolution mechanism under the Civil Service Act.

NSGEU says its concerns about job security are related to the scope of cuts planned by the province. "Drastic budget reductions (are) planned, beginning with $54 million in 2010-11 and ending with a total of $772 million by 2013-2014," the union notes.

CSUNC is made up of the chair and vice-chair from each NSGEU unit participating in bargaining with the chief negotiator. CSBUNC is made up of elected representatives from all 11 public service locals.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE