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NSGEU/NUPGE members employed by District Health Authorities go into conciliation to achieve improved working conditions.
Halifax (01 March 2012) - On Feb. 22, the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) informed employer representatives from the Annapolis Valley, South Shore and South West Nova District Health Authorities that it would be seeking the assistance of a conciliation officer in order to reach a settlement in negotiations.
Conciliation is an option under the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act that takes place when regular negotiations fail to bring an agreement. Either party may write a letter to the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education requesting the services of a Conciliation Officer. The conciliation officer does not have the power to impose a settlement on either party. Instead, their role is to mediate between the parties and help them reach an agreement. It will likely take several weeks for the conciliation officer to schedule a day with the union and employer’s bargaining committees.
NSGEU/NUPGE's goal with this round of bargaining is to achieve the same monetary package as the CDHA, language improvements and other improvements to your working conditions. In the past, the union achieved wage parity between classifications in DHA 1, 2, 3 and CDHA classifications and similar job security provisions.
However, union representatives in bargaining were advised that the employers are not interested in re-signing the Memorandum of Agreement #2 on the Transition Support Program. This memorandum provided essential job security protections and severance pay in the event a member is laid off. Members are also behind CDHA in some other provisions such as overtime and Christmas Eve half day holiday. NSGEU/NUPGE members should not receive any less than members at Capital Health just because of where they work.
A telephone town hall meeting is scheduled for March 8 at 7 pm. Members will receive a bargaining update and have the opportunity to ask questions via telephone in the comfort of their own home. In order to participate, members should ensure the Labour Resource Centre has a proper contact number.
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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