Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions to File for Conciliation for Acute Care Nurses

Halifax (June 29, 2023)

Talks that began earlier this year between the Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Union (NSNU, NSGEU, CUPE and Unifor) and employers (Nova Scotia Health and the IWK) came to a halt today, without reaching a final agreement.

After a lengthy round of negotiations, delayed in part due to COVID 19 and adapting to a new style of interest-based bargaining, the parties representing nurses who work in hospitals, satellite clinics and public health throughout the province’s acute and community care sector came to an impasse.

The Unions will now file for conciliation with the hope that the Conciliation Officer can mediate a settlement that is acceptable to both parties. The Department of Labour will appoint a Conciliator to resolve outstanding issues.

Both the employers and the unions worked hard throughout the process. Council representatives say they remain committed to negotiating contract language that will improve work-life issues, but also begin to provide the competitive wages and benefits Nova Scotia’s nurses deserve.

The Council held a total of 29 face-to-face bargaining sessions with nurse representatives from all four unions and the employer group.  

Over 10,000 Registered Nurses (RNs), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), and Nurse Practitioners (NPs) belong to the unions at the table during this round of bargaining. These nurses have been without a contract since November 2020

The Health Authorities Act, passed by the provincial government in 2014, requires all nurses employed at NSH and IWK to bargain together in a Council of Nursing Unions. Under the four Council constitutions, one union appoints the chief negotiator for each Council. The NSNU appoints the Chief Negotiator for the Nursing Council and has the majority of bargaining committee members. NSGEU appoints the Deputy Chief Negotiator and holds the second largest number of seats on the committee.

-30-

For more information please contact:

Coleen Logan, NSNU Communications Officer (902-430-6169, coleen.logan [at] nsnu.ns.ca)
Holly Fraughton, NSGEU Communications Officer (902-471-1781, hfraughton [at] nsgeu.ca)
Taylor Johnston, Atlantic Communications Representative, CUPE (902-536-4922, tjohnston [at] cupe.ca)
Shelley Amyotte, National Communications Representative, Unifor (902-717-7491, Shelley.Amyotte [at] unifor.org)