N.S. public sector unions vow to fight province’s new bargaining rules

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s public sector unions are vowing to fight the provincial government’s legislation that would identify which workers will be represented by particular unions in collective bargaining.

The leaders of four major union organizations addressed a rally of workers and union activists Friday on the steps of the legislature, saying the government’s move is an attack on democracy and labour rights.

Rick Clarke, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, says the unions were blindsided by the government after it unilaterally decided to make the changes after a summer of negotiation.

“Workers are going to be chopped up into groups and put into unions … without any hearings, and without them having a vote on where they’re going,” he said.

The unions say they want to form a bargaining association to avoid splintering their members in contract negotiations.

“The bargaining association will work, so there doesn’t need to be a choice for anybody,” said Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union. “My nurses will stay in my union, the other nurses will stay in the other union.”

But Health Minister Leo Glavine says the government needs to streamline the collective bargaining process with health care workers and the proposal by the unions does little to achieve that.

Glavine says he will introduce the legislation Monday.

With files from Natasha Pace, Global News