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Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2017
Nova Scotia
workers accept
conciliation
HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia
Government & General Em-
ployees Union (NSGEU) has
agreed to two conciliation dates
on August 8 and 9 with the Nova
Scotia Public Service Commis-
sion instead of the two dates that
had been set aside for a hearing
with the Labour Board.
Government has assured the
NSGEU and the Labour Board
that they will not oppose arbi-
tration if these two additional
conciliation dates prove to be
unsuccessful in concluding an
agreement for civil servants, ac-
cording to the union.
"Up until now, we have had
no indication that government
is genuinely interested in reach-
ing an agreement with the over
8,000 civil servants we repre-
sent," said Jason MacLean, NS-
GEU president.
Civil service members voted
to reject the provincial govern-
ment's final offer on Dec. 14,
2016.
That final office included a
four-year wage package with
two years of zeros, a third year of
one per cent, and a fourth year of
1.5 per cent with a 0.5 per cent
increase on the last day of the
contract, said the union.
The civil service master agree-
ment expired March 31, 2015.
Labour Board
upholds PSAC
complaint
OTTAWA — Public Service Al-
liance of Canada (PSAC) mem-
bers whose hours of work were
changed in 2014 during bargain-
ing with the treasury board have
won back pay and benefits after
the union filed a complaint.
The Federal Public Service
Labour Relations Act contains a
provision that freezes the terms
and conditions contained in
collective agreements on the
day that notice to bargain a new
agreement is given.
The freeze continues until a
new agreement is either negoti-
ated or awarded by an arbitrator,
or until a strike takes place, said
the union.
"The Federal Public Sector
Labour Relations and Employ-
ment Board accepted the union's
argument that by changing es-
tablished hours of work during
the bargaining process, the em-
ployer clearly violated the law,"
said Robyn Benson, PSAC presi-
dent.
The board rejected the em-
ployer's arguments and or-
dered all lost wages and ben-
efits be paid to the affected
employees for the period Nov.
1, 2014, to March 31, 2015, said
the union.
Workers ratify
4-year deal
with Rio Tinto
KITIMAT, B.C. — Workers at
Rio Tinto's smelter in Kitimat,
B.C., ratified a four-year collec-
tive agreement July 28.
"I'm proud of our members
for fighting for a fair agreement,"
said Jerry Dias, Unifor national
president.
"This was not an easy deal to
achieve."
Highlights of the new contract
include a 10.75 per cent wage in-
crease over four years, increases
to extended medical benefits,
a signing bonus and a revised
grievance process.
"These are good union jobs
that help maintain the local
community," said Gavin McGar-
rigle, Unifor BC area director. "It
was important to entrench job
security and provide ongoing
economic gains for workers at
the smelter."
Photo:
Chris
Helgren
(Reuters)
LABOUR LENS
A traveller passes by striking union members of Teamsters Local 419 at the departures level of Terminal 3
after about 700 baggage handlers and ground crew workers went on strike at Pearson International Airport
in Toronto, on July 30.
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