Province Acts to Protect Productivity

Legislation introduced by the province today, Nov. 17, will help protect Nova Scotia jobs and productivity by avoiding damaging, prolonged strikes or lockouts during the negotiation of first collective agreements.

The Act to Prevent Unnecessary Labour Disruptions and Protect the Economy creates a mechanism to help employers and unions deal with disputes during the difficult task of negotiating a first collective agreement.

"The intent of this bill is simple. It will prevent unnecessary, costly strikes that would hurt businesses, workers and the economy," said Marilyn More, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education. "It's best if employers and unions can negotiate their own collective agreements, but this legislation will help if they run into difficulties."

Eighty-five per cent of workers in Canada are covered by laws that provide a way for unions and employers to resolve first contracts without a strike or lockout. Nova Scotia would become the seventh province to have such a law.

The bill only applies to workplaces that are already unionized, and where there is no collective agreement in place.

With this legislation, as soon as a new union is certified, Department of Labour and Advanced Education staff would provide education on how to negotiate a mutually agreeable first contract. In rare instances where the employer and the employees union cannot negotiate the terms and conditions of their first collective agreement, the two parties would enter a settlement process where an impartial third party would help resolve the dispute.

Before introducing this legislation, Ms. More sought input on first contract settlement. She and senior department staff met with members of Nova Scotia's business community. She also asked the Labour Management Review Committee to do broader consultation on the subject.

Through a well-attended study day in late September, the circulation of a discussion paper that received input from interested parties across the province, and presentations to the review committee, the co-chairs provided Ms. More with an overview of the various points of view and perspectives on first contract settlement.

"The province's jobsHere plan established many programs supporting the three drivers of economic growth: innovation, learning and productivity," said Ms. More. "A stable labour environment – people at work, rather than on a picket line – is a key ingredient of productivity.

"Nova Scotia needs to compete with jurisdictions that use reasonable methods like first contract arbitration to promote good labour relations and continued productivity when workers do decide to unionize."

This legislation does not apply to Part II of the Trade Union Act which includes employers in the construction sector who build roads, industrial and commercial structures and sewers.