Support Services Bargaining Update May 19th 2022

Support Services Bargaining Update

May 19, 2022

Your Health Support Bargaining Committee (consisting of members from Unifor, CUPE and NSGEU) is informing you today that we have reached an impasse in bargaining a new collective agreement on your behalf.

After eight days of bargaining over five months, with Nova Scotia Health and the IWK – there has been little progress made in reaching an agreement for a new contract that expired on October 31, 2020.  There have been some changes to language that will benefit our members, however, there are still outstanding issues around job posting language, probationary periods, unpaid leave for volunteer firefighters who protect communities and participating in ride share programs for members in the Halifax area.

The Bargaining Committee presented a reasonable and fair wage package to the Employers in late March that is reflective of the urgency and frustration felt.  The Employer remains unwilling to consider this request.  The Employer has declined any increases in uniform and boot allowances, a competitive wage floor package or many other monetary provisions.  The cost of living and inflation have dramatically increased over the last year and the wages of some of the lowest paid “Healthcare Heroes “ has failed to catch up.  If Premier Houston really wants to fix healthcare you, the healthcare heroes need to be respected and be paid a fair and decent wage.

The Bargaining Committee has filed for Conciliation today. This means we are requesting the help of an outside third party.  You will be informed when dates are confirmed and if and when a strike vote may be required.  Conciliation must happen before we reach a complete impasse.

The committee would like to thank our members for their support as we continue to attempt to bargain a fair deal for you.

Please post this notice in your workplaces and connect with the person in your Area who is collecting email addresses.  We are seeking to move to an electronic voting model, but this requires your email address.  Once we have a database built you can vote more conveniently on strike votes, ratifications, elections and receive more regular updates.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Area VP.