Local 98 – Tourism Nova Scotia Bargaining Update: Transition into Civil Service Agreement

On November 5, 2021, Bill 71 (Tourism Nova Scotia Dissolution Act) was signed into law. The complete text of the bill can be read here.

12 (1) Effective January 1, 2022, every employee of the Corporation is deemed to be an employee of the Province in accordance with the Civil Service Act, and any enactment applicable to employees of the Civil Service applies to such employees.

(6) Notwithstanding the Civil Service Collective Bargaining Act, effective January 1, 2022, the Province is deemed to be a successor employer to the Corporation with respect to any bargaining unit, and the terms and conditions of any collective agreement to which the Corporation is party continue to be in effect until such time as an agreement is reached with the bargaining agent under the Civil Service Collective Bargaining Act with respect to the inclusion of such employees in a bargaining unit under the Civil Service Collective Bargaining Act.

While Bill 71 outlines you shall become a Civil Servant effective January 1st, it leaves the matter of your collective agreement to the parties for a resolve. The union met with the employer on October 8th, and December 8th and 13th to address the transition from your existing collective agreement to the Civil Service Agreement. The Local held a General Meeting on November 30th, as well as a Special Meeting on December 11th to discuss this transition. Your feedback was an asset during these meetings.

The union will be conducting a ratification vote for Local 98 members next week to vote upon the tentative agreement, that would transition you from the existing Tourism Nova Scotia contract to the Civil Service Agreement.

The union’s recommendation is one of acceptance.

While we were not successful in maintaining every item under the existing Tourism Nova Scotia contract, we have reached a tentative agreement with the employer to maintain the higher per diem amounts as per Article 31.05 (Meal Allowances), in addition to all rights under the Civil Service Agreement. The full text of the tentative agreement shall be provided to you when voting information is shared.

For greater clarity, if the members vote to ratify, effective January 1st, 2022, the Civil Service Agreement will become your applicable collective agreement. There will also be a memorandum of agreement that covers the transition and your per diems near the back. Effective Jan 1, all rights under the Civil Service Agreement would apply to current Local 98 members.

If the members were to reject the tentative agreement, members will remain under the existing Tourism Nova Scotia contract and both parties shall engage in a full round of negotiations to resolve the transition. During the contract negotiations, Local 98 members will not have any rights under the Civil Service Agreement.

An online vote will take place this week. Voting information will be emailed to you when a copy of the tentative agreement is shared. The membership should expect voting information to be provided before the vote opens on Wednesday, December 22nd. The vote will close near end of day Thursday, December 23rd and the union will arrange for results to be provided to the membership that evening.

Please take this opportunity to ensure the union has your correct email address on file.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact NSGEU at 1-877-556-7438 / 1-902-424-4063 or email me directly at rwiseman@nsgeu.ca.

Rick Wiseman

Chief Negotiator

902 424 4063

rwiseman@nsgeu.ca