MEDIA RELEASE: Civil Service Bargaining Committee Recommends Rejection of Government’s Offer

As a result of the government’s heavy-handed legislative interference, and after weeks of consultation with members, the Civil Service bargaining committee has decided to change their earlier recommendation to the membership. They are now recommending that the members reject the government’s final offer.

The Bargaining Unit Negotiating Committee (BUNC) voted this afternoon: 96% in favour of recommending rejection.

“We’ve spent the past weeks speaking with thousands of civil servants, and we’ve heard overwhelmingly that these members are not prepared to accept the final offer the Liberal government is trying to force upon them with Bill 148,” said NSGEU President Joan Jessome.

“The members are upset – and rightfully so – that this government has refused to allow the collective bargaining process to unfold. They want to have a chance to negotiate with their employer, have their issues heard, and vote on an agreement that hasn’t been dictated to them by Premier McNeil.”

The union will be holding a mail-in vote with the membership in the coming weeks.

If the members vote to reject the government’s offer, the union will explore every option to reach an agreement with the employer at the table.

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The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union represents over 30,000 women and men who provide quality public services Nova Scotian’s count on every day.

For more information, please contact:

Holly Fraughton, NSGEU Communications Officer
902.424.4063 (office)
902.471.1781 (cell)
hfraughton@nsgeu.ca