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MRHA balks at giving its employees the same deal negotiated by NSGEU for other housing authorities.
Halifax (20 Dec. 2010) - A contract dispute between the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) and the Metropolitan Regional Housing Authority (MRHA) is going to conciliation.
The union says it was unable to convince the authority to reach "a fair resolution to negotiations" by accepting a wage package identical to those reached by other unionized housing authorities where it bargains on behalf of employees.
Those settlements included a 2.9% increase retroactive to April 1, 2009. Instead, it is trying to make employees accept a 1% increase for the period, followed by two other 1% increases in 2010 and 2011.
"Further to this, the Union is filing for conciliation," NSGEU says in a statement posted on its website.
If after meeting with the parties the conciliator determines that an agreement will not be reached, he or she may declare an impasse. The law then requires the conciliator to file a confidential report with the minister of labour and workforce development.
"A 14 day countdown period begins at 12:01 am on the day following the filing of the report," NSGEU adds.
"During the countdown period, the employer is not permitted to increase or decrease wage rates or alter any other term or condition of employment. We are in the process of discussing dates to meet in January with the employer and the conciliator. We will keep the membership informed."
NUPGE
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