Bill 1: Arbitrator will not hear NSGEU's constitutional challenge

CTV News has learned the arbitrator appointed to deal with the Nova Scotia government’s controversial Bill 1 will not hear the constitutional challenge filed by the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union.

The Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness confirms the mediator-turned arbitrator, James Dorsey, has ruled the challenge must be dismissed.

The NSGEU is one of four unions affected by the legislation passed in the Nova Scotia legislature last month.

The legislation shrinks the number of bargaining units from 50 to four -- with distinct bargaining unit for nurses, health-care workers, clerical staff and support staff. The legislation will also reduce the number of district health authorities to two from 10 as of April 1.

The NSGEU argued the bill infringes on the constitutional rights of the 24,000 health-care workers affected by the legislation.

The clock ran out on mediation earlier this week so Dorsey must now decide which union will represent which health-care workers.

A 45-day arbitration process began Tuesday and Dorsey is expected to deliver a decision by Jan. 1.

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  Joan Jessome, the president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, is accusing a nurses union of sabotaging a united labour front that would have avoided having an arbitrator decide which unions will represent health workers.