News Release Archive
HUMAN RESOURCES/NSGEU--QE II AGREEMENT ------------------------------------------------------------ Human Resources Minister Jay Abbass today responded to an announcement by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union that it had signed a memorandum of agreement with the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. The Minister said that he was pleased,"the agreement gives employees the reassurances their union sought from their new employer." He added this agreement repeats the guarantees under the act to create the QEII Health Sciences Centre, reaffirming that the terms and conditions of their collective agreements will be protected. "The purpose of this act is to give the employee and the employer the ability to sit down together and talk. That's what they've done, they've dealt with the issues that only an employer and its employees should deal with. The act sets the framework that allows these discussions to take place," said Mr. Abbass. He noted the union had raised concerns about the role of the Labour Relations Board. He pointed out the long, successful history the board has had for more than 20 years in resolving labour issues in the province. In addition, both union and management have representatives who sit on the board and can represent their concerns. Among the current union board members is a representative from the NSGEU. The normal practice is for the board to resolve those issues that cannot be successfully resolved through negotiations between the employee and the employer. "We've already seen in the QEII example that the employer and the employee can sit down and talk to resolve issues on their own. That sets a good precedent, building on the framework put in place by the act," the Minister added. The Minister reaffirmed that legitimate concerns about the act could be addressed at the Law Amendments Committee stage. The act could enter that stage as early as this week. He also added that the government would not negotiate with the NSGEU while there was still a threat of an illegal strike, and further discussions regarding changes in the act could take place at the Law Amendments Committee. -30- Contact: Norma MacIsaac 902-424-5427 jlw Dec. 4, 1995