HALIFAX -- The Nova Scotia government says contract negotiations began Wednesday with 7,600 unionized civil servants.

The employees, including clerical, corrections and social workers, are represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union.

Both sides met to exchange proposals which included the government's proposed wage offer.

A government facts sheet says its offer is in keeping with a fiscal plan which calls for five-year contracts with no increases in the first three years.

The union is being offered one per cent increases in 2018-19 and in 2019-20 and annual step increases for eligible employees who make up 28 per cent of the union's membership.

The government says newer civil servants who are lower paid would see larger pay increases than higher paid staff as a result of the offer.