MEDIA RELEASE: Health Care Workers Ratify Tentative Agreement

DARTMOUTH – Members of the Health Care bargaining Council at Nova Scotia Health (NSH) and IWK Health Centre voted today to accept a tentative agreement brought forward by their bargaining committee by 79 per cent.

Due in large part to the complexity of this bargaining unit (it includes more than 9,100 members working in approximately 180 different occupations), the wage provisions are complex: monetary increases depend on the members’ occupation, how many years of service they have (what step they fall on in the current wage grid), and how their occupation compares to your counterparts in Atlantic Canada.

The offer that was brought forward was a two-year deal, which includes cumulative wage increases totaling between 10.38 to 18.87 per cent over the two years of the agreement (November 1st, 2023 to October 31st, 2025) for those who are at the top of their scale.

All members receive the basic economic adjustments of 3% (effective November 1st, 2023), 2% (effective November 1st, 2024).

Everyone except for Care Team Assistants (CTAs) and Paramedics will receive the Special Acute Care adjustment of 2.5% effective April 1st, 2024. Then, effective October 31st, 2024, another 2.5% step will be added to all classifications except Paramedics. One year later, another 2.5% step will be added to all classifications except Paramedics. (Note: CTAs received an extra adjustment prior to this agreement and are currently highest paid for their classification in Atlantic Canada, and Paramedics have been matched to EMC paramedics).

Finally, for those occupations who are not leading in Atlantic Canada, special catch-up adjustments of up to 2.5% and 2.5% will be applied on November 1st, 2024, and April 1st, 2025, respectively.

“This deal was tough to achieve, but is fair,” said NSGEU President Sandra Mullen, “It recognizes the critical role these health care professionals play in delivering the care Nova Scotians so desperately need.”

“The Council has achieved a tentative agreement that focuses on retaining current employees as a priority and recruiting future employees by recognizing that NSH and IWK health care employees should be highest paid in Atlantic Canada,” said Dianne Frittenburg, President of CUPE Local 8920.

“More needs to be done, but this agreement is a significant step in the right direction,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director, Jennifer Murray.

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For more information, or to arrange an interview with NSGEU President Sandra Mullen, please contact:

Holly Fraughton, NSGEU Communications Officer, 902-471-1781, hfraughton@nsgeu.ca   

Shelley Amyotte, Unifor National Communications Representative, 902-717-7491, Shelley.Amyotte@unifor.org  

Taylor Johnston, CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative, tjohnston@cupe.ca