Health Care Collective Agreement Update

Dear members,

Health care collective agreements for Nova Scotia Health and IWK were signed today after some delay related largely to finalizing pay scales for all classifications. Now that the agreement has been signed by all parties, we anticipate the employer providing information in the coming days on retroactivity. Please stay tuned for further updates.

A copy of the new collective agreement will be posted on the NSGEU website early next week.

Background:

In early July, health care workers represented by the Health Care Council of Unions (NSGEU, CUPE & Unifor) voted to accept a tentative agreement put forward by their bargaining committee for acceptance.

That contract, which is effective from November 1st, 2020 to October 31st, 2023, includes a variety of improvements, including:

• A 5.5% wage increase for all pay grades (1.5% effective Nov. 1st, 2020, 1.5% effective Nov. 1st, 2021, 1.5% effective Nov. 1st, 2022, and 1% effective the final day of the agreement, Oct. 31st, 2023);
• Additional wage increases for Care Team Assistants (CTAs), amounting to 2% on date of ratification and 3% on June 1st, 2022;
• Matching acute care paramedics’ rates of pay to those of IOUE retroactive to Nov. 1st, 2020;

And the creation of a joint Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation Committee, composed of equal representation from employers and the unions.