ATLANTIC

Union for 2,600 nurses in Halifax says contract talks with employer at impasse

THE CANADIAN PRESS Published Friday, January 31, 2014 11:21AM AST

A patient waits along the wall of a hallway in a hospital emergency room in this 2011 photo. (AP / David Goldman)

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HALIFAX -- The union representing registered nurses at Nova Scotia's Capital District Health Authority says contract talks with the employer have reached an impasse after eight days at the table.

The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says it has applied to the Department of Labour for a conciliator in hopes of reaching an agreement without strike action.

Union president Joan Jessome says the union is concerned with scheduling and patient safety issues as well as what it says are clawback demands from the authority.

Jessome says the final settlement offer from management is "simply unacceptable."

Local 97 of the union represents 2,600 registered nurses who work at health facilities in the Halifax area.