The Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions has asked the Labour Board to finalize an Essential Services Agreement with the IWK.
The council announced last week they would be holding a strike vote for 6,500 employees.
The unions can’t legally strike unless an essential services agreement is in place with the IWK and Nova Scotia Health Authority.
Kim Jenkins, second vice-president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, says they’re having disagreements on staffing levels with the IWK which is why the labour board is involved.
“They look at what the union has submitted and what the employer has submitted and they would decide what the essential services plan would be.”
Jenkins hopes this shows the gravity of the situation.
“We just want the government and employer to take this seriously, our members need to have an agreement, we’re just putting on a little more pressure.”
Although they are pressing the IWK for an agreement, Jenkins says they expect they’ll have one with the health authority soon.
The labour board has 30 days to hear submissions from both sides before issuing an order to resolve the agreement.
Further negotiations between the employers – NSHA and IWK and the unions – are planned for April.
There’s no word yet on when the unions will hold their strike vote, though it’s also expected for April.
The bargaining unit has taken issue with some proposals from the employers including one that would see employees of the health authority be reassigned anywhere in the province that the health authority wishes.
