Health-care unions grapple with bargaining report

The provinces four health-care unions have instructed their legal teams to work together to make the Dorsey report work for everyone.

A news release issued jointly by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union, Nova Scotia Nurses Union and Unifor said the decision comes from a meeting on Tuesday with a goal of getting the best outcomes for the 24,000 health-care member affected by the Liberal governments Health Authorities Act.

Dorsey ruled the government could reduce the number of bargaining units to four: clerical, health care, nursing and support. The government has indicated a desire for each of the four unions to represent one of the new units.

In a move the unions heralded, Dorsey said where there is no clear majority for one union health care and support those affected could form an amalgamated union for the purpose of negotiations.

Further hearings are set for the week of Feb. 2 to discuss that idea and what will happen with the nursing and clerical units. Although opinions have changed throughout the process, the prevailing desire from the unions is amalgamated unions be used for all negotiations, with unions retaining their members.

Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine said Wednesday the governments position is that amalgamated unions are only for cases without a clear majority. He was particularly firm in the case of the nursing bargaining unit.

We want to be able to provide nurses with the greatest degree of mobility and we feel that, again, if we retain two (unions) there will be limitations within the way they will operate.

The Dorsey report said only the clerical bargaining unit has a union with a proper majority, in that case the NSGEU. That union has said it would be willing to wave that majority in favour of an amalgamated bargaining unit if it means unions can keep their respective members.

Glavine isnt interested in that option.

If theres a clear majority and if thats the way the bargaining agent can be determined, then thats absolutely the direction that we would go.

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Health-care unions grapple with bargaining report

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