Media Release: NSGEU Home Support Workers at Northwood Vote to Reject Employer’s Offer

February 9, 2014

Halifax – Members of NSGEU Local 34, home support staff who work at Northwood in HRM, have voted 97% to reject the employers offer at an emergency meeting this evening.

“The Bargaining Committee could not recommend an agreement that did not contain parity with other workers who do the same job and share the same qualifications but work in a hospital setting,” says Joan Jessome, President of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union. “They certainly deserve the same hourly wage their counterparts receive.”

Talks with Northwood, which had entered the conciliation process, broke down Thursday.

Local 34 is the first NSGEU home support local out of a total of 14 NSGEU home support locals to reject an offer that did not contain parity with workers who do their same job in hospitals.

There are four other NSGEU home support locals at conciliation tomorrow (Monday) with the VON: Local 31 (VON Kings-Annapolis County); Local 40 (Home Support, VON Tri-County); Local 35 (VON Colchester & East Hants); Local 85 (VON Pictou).

Following the vote tonight, the conciliator will file his report Wednesday which will trigger a 14 day countdown to a strike. The countdown would begin on Thursday, February 13.

Local 34’s contract expired on March 31, 2012.

There are approximately 420 members of Local 34 who provide home support services for Northwood throughout the HRM.

 

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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 Scotians count on every day.

For more information or to arrange an interview with NSGEU President, Joan Jessome, please contact:

 

Deedee Slye, NSGEU Communications Officer

424.4063 (office)

497-6761 (cell); dslye@nsgeu.ca

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