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NSGEU members at Dalhousie University vote to strike

Members of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) employed by Dalhousie University are conducting strike votes.

Halifax (27 Feb. 2012) - After an unacceptable offer in negotiations, the committee bargaining on behalf of the members of the Nova Scotia Government & General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) employed by the Dalhousie University have called for a strike vote.

On Feb. 20, Dalhousie University made an offer that would leave members’ wages falling behind the cost of living and with less of a voice in employee pensions. In addition to the strike vote, the committee is asking the conciliator to file his report, which will trigger a 14-day countdown to job action.

An information session for affected members was held on Feb. 24. Two more sessions will be held on Feb. 27: one session from 12 noon to 1:30 pm, in Theatre B, Tupper Building, and the other in a “telephone town hall” session beginning at 6 pm. Voting sessions will begin on Feb. 29.

The employer’s summary of its final offer, particularly its questionable assurance that the individual bargaining units will maintain their vetoes over changes to the pension plan, may have left some people with a misunderstanding of the significance of the concessions they are actually seeking.

There are two main reasons why the bargaining committee determined it could not accept the Employer’s recent offer: a wage offer of three per cent over three years and multiple changes to the pension plan which will affect member contributions and administration of the plan. Read more details on the full report of changes here.

NSGEU/NUPGE members are encouraged to contact the bargaining committee or the union Labour Resource Centre at toll free 1-877-556-7438 for further information.

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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE