Nova Scotia’s Crown attorneys walked off the job yesterday and the province quickly responded.
The government has filed a notice of action and motion for an injunction in Nova Scotia Supreme Court that would force the Crown attorneys to stop the illegal strike action.
In a release, Premier Stephen McNeil says the province “values Crown attorneys and the important work they do across the province but this is an illegal strike and they can’t just walk off the job.”
He says the injunction “is about protecting the public safety of Nova Scotians and ensuring our court system continues to function.”
Rick Woodburn, the lead negotiator for the Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys’ Association, disagreed with the Premier, saying the protest was legal and that they were fighting the proposed provincial legislation which would eliminate the association’s right to binding arbitration.
The Nova Scotia Crown Attorneys Association seeking a 17 per cent increase in pay over four years while the government offered a 7 per cent increase in pay over the same time period, which the province says is much more than they can afford.
Nova Scotia Crown attorneys currently make up to $149,149 annually, the highest in Atlantic Canada and the proposed increase will increase to about $160,000 annually under the government’s established wage pattern.
The employment agreement between the association and the government expired back on March 31st.
