Civil Service Bargaining Update: Dates Set for Labour Board Hearing Regarding Arbitration

Good afternoon,

As you may be aware, we are continuing to try to negotiate a collective agreement with the newly re-elected McNeil government.

The Civil Service Collective Bargaining Act stipulates arbitration as the means for resolving outstanding bargaining demands. In mid-May, members of the Civil Service voted overwhelming in favour of proceeding to arbitration if your Bargaining Committee felt it had reached an impasse in negotiations.

Believing we have reached an impasse in negotiations, your Union Negotiating Committee filed an application with the Nova Scotia Labour Board to proceed to interest arbitration. However, the Employer opposed our application.

As a result, there will be a hearing at the Nova Scotia Labour Board to determine whether to grant us arbitration at this time or not. We have two dates set for this hearing – August 8th and 9th.

If we are not successful and the Labour Board rules against proceeding to arbitration, we would return to the conciliation process.

We will send more updates as the situation develops.

Your Bargaining Committee (Union Negotiating Committee and the Bargaining Unit Negotiating Council) thanks you for your continued support and solidarity.