Local 50 – Sherbrooke (Village) Restoration Commission – Bargaining Reaches Impasse: Union Applies for Conciliation & Information/Voting Session in Scheduled.

Bargaining has reached an impasse:

Your Bargaining Committee met with the Employer yesterday, July 15th, in an effort to finalize a collective agreement.  Unfortunately, the Employer’s final offer does not address the concerns of the membership and does not include an acceptable wage offer. For details on outstanding items, please see below.

There are no new dates scheduled to return to the bargaining table.

Union files for Conciliation Officer:

While we are very disappointed in this recent development, we remain committed to achieving a fair collective agreement. The Union has filed an application for the appointment of a Conciliation Officer today, July 16th, who will assist both parties to reach a tentative agreement. For more information about the conciliation process, please see below.

An information session and vote on the Employer’s final offer has been scheduled:

We have scheduled an information session to discuss the details of the Employer’s final offer and to hold a vote.

When: Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Time: 6pm

Where: Sherbrooke Village

Your Bargaining Committee recommends rejection of the Employer’s final offer!

President Joan Jessome, along with your Chief Negotiator, Jim Gosse, and Bargaining Committee, will be in attendance to answer any questions and hear any concerns you have. At the meeting, we will be reviewing, discussing, and voting on the Employer’s final offer. We will also be discussing next steps.

Your attendance is critical!  Please make every effort to attend!

The following provisions remain outstanding:

• Article 34.02 (6) – Sick Leave (Seasonal Employees)
• Article 32 – Pay Provisions (Rates of Pay as reflected in Schedule “A” and Schedule “B”).
• The Employer has tabled a 1% economic increase in each year – April 1, 2012 – 1%, April 1, 2013 – 1% & April 1, 2014 – 1%.  The Employer has refused to bargain beyond the proposed increase despite the Union modifying its original wage proposal.  The Union had been seeking a wage increase of 2%, 2.5% & 3% over the same period, but modified the wage proposal during our last day of negotiations July 15th, 2015, to reflect a 2% increase in each year of a three (3) year agreement – April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2015.

In addition the Employer has refused to negotiate a wage for the classifications noted:

1. Employee/s working in the Waitress/Waiter and Cooks classifications be considered as and paid at the same wage rate as Interpreters.
2. The Employee/s working in the Restaurant Supervisor classification receive the same rate of pay as the Senior Interpreter.
3. Employee/s who work in a secondary or “Assistant” classification for which there is a primary classification and preforms the principal duties of the primary classification receive the same rate of pay of the primary classification. (eg.  Woodturner, Woodturner Assistant and Potter, Potter Assistant).

• Article 37 – Term of Agreement & Effective Date

Your Bargaining Committee thanks you for your continued support. We will advise you when dates are set for conciliation. Please watch for future updates.

What is Conciliation?

Conciliation is provided under the Nova Scotia Trade Union Act. It takes place when regular negotiations fail to bring about an agreement. Either party may apply to the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education requesting the services of a Conciliation Officer. The Conciliation Officer does not have the power to impose a settlement on either party. Instead, their role is to mediate between the parties and help them reach an agreement. We are committed to reaching a tentative agreement that your Bargaining Committee can recommend to you.

What can happen at Conciliation?

The Union and Employer will either reach a tentative agreement or, if they do not, the Conciliator will determine that an agreement will not be reached and will file a report with the Minister of Labour & Advanced Education. If a tentative agreement is reached, we will arrange information sessions where members can pose questions and vote on the tentative agreement. If an impasse is declared, we will arrange information sessions where members can vote on the Employers’ final offer.

If you have any questions, please contact a member of your Bargaining Committee, or the NSGEU at 902-424-4063; toll-free at 1-877-556-7438; or by email at inquiry@nsgeu.ca.

Bargaining Committee

Susan Hayne

susan.hayne@hotmail.com

Vallerie Gallen

auntninnie@ns.sympatico.ca

Jim Gosse, Chief Negotiator

jgosse@nsgeu.ca

902-424-4063 or 1-877-556-7438