Local 97 – CDHA Nurses Essential Service Negotiations Update

Over the past few weeks, the union has reached further agreement with Capital Health on several additional work areas for essential service staffing levels, and your essential service committee members have rounded again on the units to gather further information and verify actual levels of staffing as proposed by the employer.

Your union continues to submit counter proposals on areas where disagreement exists.

We are continuing to negotiate the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as required under Bill 37. This document addresses issues such as payment of benefits, monitoring staffing levels during labour disruption and rotation of those providing essential services. There has been resolution on some of these items, but both sides continue to submit proposals in hopes of reaching an overall agreement.

It is still a strong possibility the union or the employer will exercise their right under Bill 37 to take any outstanding items, such as challenges to essential service numbers and unresolved items in the MOU, to the Labour Board for resolution. Over the next few weeks we will continue to negotiate with your employer and prepare for a possible hearing at the Labour Board.

The parties are scheduled to meet again on September 10^th and 12^th. We will provide any updated information to you prior to these dates should there be any significant changes. Otherwise, an update will be provided after these meetings have taken place.

If you have any questions or concerns about these ongoing discussions, please contact the NSGEU by calling 424-4063 (toll-free 1-877-556-7438) or emailing inquiry@nsgeu.ca.