Nova Scotia health-care unions reach tentative deal, avoid strike

After a marathon round of negotiations, the Council of Health Care Unions has reached a tentative deal with the Nova Scotia government, for its more than 9,000 health-care professionals working across the province.

NSGEU president Sandra Mullen, led the negotiations on behalf of the union groups and said talks with the conciliator and the employer went well beyond the negotiated deadline, before a tentative agreement was reached at 4:30 a.m. on Friday.

“This is a good deal and one the committee is prepared to recommend to members,” said Mullen in a news release. “The committee worked very hard to conclude this agreement and they deserve a great deal of credit for their efforts.”

The province’s health minister, Michelle Thompson, said the two sides came to a deal that is fair for both the workers and taxpayers.

“We came to the table in good faith, offered a fair pay increase and were able to agree on terms with the council, “ said Thompson in a statement to the press.

“We thank the Council of Health Care Unions for their work achieving this agreement. Our government remains committed to the collective bargaining process and to working with our health-care professionals as we deliver better care, sooner.”

The province said details of the tentative agreement remain confidential until ratified by union members but confirmed it's a two-year agreement.

With a tentative agreement in place, the unions will prepare employees for a vote on a contract agreement the union leadership says was fought hard for.

“The members will decide on whether this package proves to be enough, but the committee has certainly done its best and has a deal worthy of recommendation,” said Susan Gill, national representative for Unifor.

Employees are expected to begin voting on the contract package next week.

The tentative two-year agreement involves more than 9,000 health-care employees across 185 different occupations, working at health-care facilities operated by the IWK and Nova Scotia Health.

That includes key sectors like diagnostic imaging, laboratory technicians, respiratory, hearing, speech and cancer care therapists, physical therapy specialists, along with mental health and addictions employees and more.

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