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Nova Scotia government takes away right to bargain

Add your voice to the fight against Bill 148. Show your support for public service workers who want to bargain fairly.

Halifax (16 Dec. 2015) — The Nova Scotia government has once again introduced legislation that will impose restrictions on public sector workers. Bill 148, the proposed Public Service Sustainability Act, will, if proclaimed, impose a four-year wage pattern on thousands of members working in virtually all sectors represented by the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE).

Nova Scotia government walks away from bargaining to impose wages

With the legislation, the government is unilaterally setting a wage pattern of 0%, 0%, 1% and 1.5% over the life of the agreement. There will also be a 0.5% increase on the last day of the contract. The government is also ending the accrual of long-service awards for those members who have them, effective April 1, 2015, and only paying at 2014 rates.

Stephen McNeil said he wouldn’t legislate a wage pattern. Now he is.

He was quoted as saying, “Meanwhile on Friday, Premier Stephen McNeil denied contracts would be forced on anyone…." and “Was I legislating a wage pattern? No, I wasn’t.” (CBC, Nov. 23, 2015)

Government abandons bargaining process by imposing contract

Thousands of NSGEU/NUPGE members will not have an opportunity to bargain with their employer in any meaningful way. The government has taken away this right.

The government says it plans not to proclaim this legislation unless something happens that interferes with its fiscal mandate. This is a threat which further detracts from meaningful collective bargaining.

Your voice can make a difference

Bill 148 will be at Law Amendments on December 15. The public has the opportunity to speak against this reactionary legislation.

If you would like to present to the committee hearing in Halifax, please call or email the Legislative Counsel Office. 

Here are some important documents about this Bill for your reference.

Government Summary – Public Service Sustainability

Government Power Point on PSSA

Government Bill- Public Service Sustainability Act

More information:

Government’s contract proposals attack public services and public service workers, says NSGEU President

Liberal Nova Scotia Premier says health care workers can't vote on their new unions

After attacking rights of health care workers, Nova Scotia Liberals now attacking university workers

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 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