Collective bargaining efforts for Nova Scotia health care support workers have been put on hold as the province enters an election period, a decision union leaders say has fractured trust between the unions and the government. Representatives from Unifor, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU), and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) say the pause will delay long-awaited wage increases for more than 4,000 support workers in acute health care.
Jennifer Murray, Unifor’s Atlantic Regional Director, expressed frustration over the setback, saying the expiry of the current collective agreement in October 2023 already left workers facing delays. “This delay is unacceptable, and talks should resume so no additional time is wasted while we move through this election period,” Murray said.
Negotiations had continued earlier this week, focusing on non-monetary items after both unions and employers anticipated monetary talks would resume under a new government. The Council of Support Unions met with employers on October 28 and expected additional bargaining dates through November and December. However, on October 29, they were informed that employers lacked a government mandate to continue any further discussions.
Sandra Mullen, President of NSGEU, emphasized the inequity in delays for support workers, who include roles such as utility workers, mechanics, plumbers, dietary aides, porters, and laundry workers, compared to other health care bargaining units. “It’s disappointing that this group of workers are forced to wait while others already have new agreements in place. This group is too often overlooked,” Mullen said.
CUPE 8920 President Dianne Frittenburg criticized Premier Tim Houston, saying his decision to call an early election violated both his campaign promises and established legislation on election dates. “Support staff are just as much a part of health care as every other bargaining unit, and they deserve the same attention and care,” Frittenburg said.
The unions indicated they would continue to negotiate an Essential Services agreement for support workers despite the pause on wage negotiations. The Council of Support Unions, which represents over 4,100 acute health care workers in the province, will be watching closely as the election unfolds, they said.