Health Care Strike Vote Information Session in Cape Breton Today

Dear Health Care Bargaining Unit members,

Today, NSGEU President Jason MacLean and Chief Negotiator Shawn Fuller will host two information sessions in Cape Breton on the upcoming health care strike vote. Please take the time to come out and have your questions answered on this important strike vote.

Today, Monday, April 16, 2018:

Port Hawkesbury: 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. at the Maritime Inn, Port Room

Sydney: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the NSGEU Sydney Office Classroom, 2nd floor

Your bargaining committee and several other volunteers have been putting in long hours at phone banks, regional strike vote meetings and on telephone town halls urging NSGEU health care members across the province to vote to strike to back your bargaining demands.

It has become clear the Employers are attempting to take advantage of restructuring in health care and are doing all they can to reduce your rights and benefits. Your bargaining committee believes that a strong strike vote is the only way to conclude a fair collective agreement on your behalf.

Membership reaction is very positive. NSGEU health care members at the IWK and the NSHA are saying they will vote to protect rights and benefits earned over decades of bargaining.

Your committee also needs you to understand that you must vote. This is critically important. Under the Trade Union Act, all votes to strike are counted as a percentage of the total membership. This means if you do not vote, it is effectively counted as a no vote. So, again, it is critical that everyone vote.

A strike vote does not mean a strike of health care members immediately after April 30. The Council hopes that a strong strike mandate will generate enough pressure to get a fair collective agreement. Please make sure you talk to your colleagues about the importance of voting to strike.

The NSGEU will email your strike vote package beginning April 23. Members will be provided with a PIN that will allow them to vote by telephone or online. The voting will take place between April 23 and April 30.

The NSGEU has sent information packages to all members by mail. If you or your colleagues have not received a package, it means we do not have a proper mailing address. Please call the NSGEU Labour Resource Centre at 902-424-4063 or toll free at 1-877-556-7438 in order to ensure you receive all future strike related mail outs.