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NSGEU members at VON head to conciliation

Employer refuses to put key proposals on the table for bargaining.

Halifax (01 Nov. 2013) - Bargaining has continued for members of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) who work for the Victoria Order of Nurses (VON) in October.

Bargaining with VON unproductive as employer refused to table key provisions on wages, hours of work, vacation, travel time and others

Originally, five days of bargaining were scheduled, but additional time was unnecessary because the parties could not reach agreement on any issues. Although talks were generally cordial, the bargaining process was unproductive, largely because the employer did not have an offer to make on wages, hours of work, or improvements to travel, overtime, amount of vacation, and other key provisions of the collective agreement.

The bargaining committee has decided to apply to the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education to request the assistance of a Conciliation Officer. According to the Trade Union Act, either a union or an employer can apply for conciliation when bargaining reaches an impasse. Although a Conciliation Officer cannot compel the union and the employer to reach a collective agreement, the process is a good mechanism for the parties to bargain more effectively. If conciliation is successful, a tentative agreement will be presented to the union members. If conciliation fails, the Conciliation Officer files a report with the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education, which triggers a fourteen-day countdown or cooling off period, after which a union may go on strike or an employer may lock the members out.

The NSGEU/NUPGE bargaining committee remains optimistic that a new collective agreement may be achieved at conciliation.

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