Health Care Bargaining Update January 19th 2024

Health Care Bargaining Unit

Essential Services; Bargaining Update

Dear CUPE member,

Your committee continues to prepare for bargaining for the Health Care bargaining unit.

As you may recall from our earlier update in November, we have begun the essential service negotiation process.

What are Essential Service Agreements?

As a result of legislation passed by the past Liberal provincial government, CUPE now bargains as part of a Council of Unions. Along with Unifor and the NSGEU, we collectively represent approximately 7,500 health care workers working in a wide variety of roles at Nova Scotia Health (NSH) throughout the province and the IWK. We are also now compelled by legislation to work with the employer to establish an Essential Services staffing agreement prior to any legal strike action taking place.

So far, union representatives have met with the employers five times to try and work out essential services staffing agreements. We have made progress, and have five additional dates scheduled on January 22, February 7, February 22, March 6, and March 26.

At the same time, your bargaining committee representatives have been meeting to develop bargaining proposals. That work is now complete, and we have reached out to the employers to schedule bargaining dates.

We will advise you once bargaining dates are scheduled and if there are any updates on essential service agreements.

Please keep a close eye on your email over the coming weeks and speak with your coworkers to ensure they are receiving updates from the union, as well.

If you have questions or concerns about the bargaining process, please contact your Area VP.

URGENT:  CUPE Local 8920 is moving to electronic balloting for voting.  It is imperative if you want to participate in potential votes for ratification, rejection, or strike action that you file your personal email address with us cupelocal8920@gmail.com Please be sure to include your name, site you work, classification and personal EMAIL ADDRESS.  This cannot be done once a vote is in progress the work of setup must be done now so to participate in democracy be sure to forward your personal EMAIL address NOW to cupelocal8920@gmail.com