Tentative agreement between CDHA and province's largest healthcare local.
Halifax (21 Sept. 2007) - Nova Scotia Government and General Employees 
Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) President Joan Jessome said that a tentative deal involving 3,200 healthcare workers and their employer at the Capital District Health Authority (CDHA) proves once again that collective bargaining in Nova Scotia works just as it should.
“This is exactly the way bargaining is supposed to work,” Jessome said.
“This tentative agreement proves that bargaining in Nova Scotia may not be perfect and it may be challenging but it is the best way to balance the interest of the workers with the need to ensure that public safety is protected.”
Jessome pointed out that prior to the negotiated settlement, the Union and the Capital District Health Authority were able to successfully conclude an emergency services agreement.
This agreement, which is a requirement under the NSGEU collective agreement, ensured that in the event of a strike enough staff would be left in place to provide emergency services to the public.
Highlights of this agreement include:
- All employees in the bargaining unit will receive the same retirement allowance equivalent to the public service award offered to the civil service;
- All employees received 2.9% increases with selected classifications receiving additional 2.1% as a market and retention increase;
- Employees holding a Practical Nurse license will receive two pay level increases as of April 2009; and
- Increase in weekend and shift premium from .50 to $1.50 retroactive to Nov. 2006.
The members of the local are voting on the agreement next week.
“Free collective bargaining plays a big role in the improvement of working conditions and the patient care in our public health care system,” Jessome said.
NSGEU Local 42 includes more than 170 classifications including Medical Laboratory Technologists, Licensed Practical Nurses, Social Workers, and Diagnostic Imaging classifications. NUPGE
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