Local 78B – Autobus Transco Inc. (Formerly NPS) Bargaining Update: Information Session and Vote on the Employer’s Final Offer

As you are aware, the employer had presented your bargaining committee with a final offer. Your bargaining committee had voted no to the final offer, as it does not properly address the key priorities you said were important to you, such as wages, sick leave, wages and a 5-hour guarantee of work. NSGEU filed for conciliation to the Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration on January 25, 2024. A conciliator was appointed on February 2, 2024.

The conciliator has attempted to bring the union and your employer together. Unfortunately, your employer has refused to cooperate in conciliation, even after several attempts by the conciliator to schedule times to meet. Given your employer has refused to cooperate, the next step is for the conciliator to file his report with the Minster. Doing so will begin the “14 day cooling off period” under the Trade Union Act. This period is required to see if the parties would reconvene discussions. After the 14 days, the members will be in a 48 hour notice strike period.

NSGEU is disappointed with your employer’s has refuse to cooperate with conciliation and their attitude towards bargaining. Our next step is to bring the final offer to you. Your bargaining committee is recommending you reject this final offer.

The union, in collaboration with your bargaining committee, will hold an information session and vote on Tuesday, February 20, to share the details of the employer’s offer, answer any questions you may have, provide information on the vote, and outline next steps. It is very important that all Local 78b members attend this session in person. This vote will decide if you accept your employer’s final offer or to reject it and proceed with a strike.

Information and vote will occur on:

Date: Tuesday, February 20th, 2024

Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Location: NSGEU, 255 John Savage Avenue, Dartmouth NS

Only signed members will have the right to vote on the employer’s final offer. If you are not a sign member or are unsure, please contact us Resource Center at 902 424 4063.

It is very important that the union has the contact information for all members. If you know of someone who is not receiving these communications, please have them call the NSGEU Labour Resource Center at 902-424-4063 and update or provide their current contact information.

If you have any questions, please contact a member of your bargaining committee:

Ted Haight, seaworthyted@gmail.com

Roxanne Petrossie, roxannepetrossi@gmail.com

Janet Brine, presvac@hotmail.com

Linda Oakey, lindaoakey@hotmail.com

Lead Negotiator Dustin Rioux, drioux@nsgeu.ca