Nova Scotia Health and IWK health support workers voted 58% in favour of a new collective agreement that includes general wage increases and retroactive shift premium increases, their union announced Friday.
The two-year deal covers 4,600 workers in acute health care including utility workers, mechanics, skilled trades workers, power engineers, dietary aides, porters and laundry workers. The agreement expires in October 2025.
The narrow approval margin reflects member concerns about the employer’s offer, according to union officials.
“The vote result shows how conflicted the members are about this employer offer,” said Jennifer Murray, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director. “This unit needed the retroactive increases but also expected the government to show greater investment in this unit as they had for other bargaining units.”
Bargaining delays
Negotiations began in September 2024 but were suspended when the Houston government called an early election. Talks could not resume until the government provided employers with a financial mandate in February 2025.
The Council of Health Support Unions and employers filed jointly for conciliation in March 2025.
“We’re pleased this round of bargaining is completed after many unnecessary delays and a frustrating fight to secure comparable wage increases for the workers who keep hospitals clean and operational, and keep patients safe and fed,” Murray said.
Multi-union bargaining
The Council of Health Support Unions includes representatives from Unifor, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, and the Canadian Union of Public Employees. The council represents one of four bargaining units in Nova Scotia’s acute care sector, divided by job classifications covering nursing, health care, administrative professionals and health support.
Sandra Mullen, NSGEU President, said more work remains to improve health care services.
“I congratulate the bargaining committee for their hard work during this challenging round of negotiations,” Mullen said. “There’s more that needs to be done to improve health care services and it all centres around supporting health care workers by creating a safe, supportive and strong work environment.”
Next round of bargaining
Union officials plan to begin the next round of negotiations as soon as possible and expect a commitment to timely negotiations from Nova Scotia Health, IWK and the provincial government.
“Every member of the bargaining committee represented their fellow workers with integrity and a fierce commitment to securing improvements,” said Dianne Frittenburg, CUPE 8920 President. “We value the work each member of the Health Support bargaining unit does to contribute to the services we count on and we look forward to the next set of negotiations.”
The agreement includes wage adjustments for building trades workers in addition to general wage increases and retroactive shift premium increases.
