HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government is bringing in legislation Monday to merge health authorities and streamline bargaining with health care unions.
The Health Authorities Act would see 10 health districts reduced to two, a move Health Minister Leo Glavine estimates will save more than $5 million a year in senior executive salaries and board expenses.
The bill would also reduce the number of bargaining units from 50 to four and require workers who do the same types of jobs to be represented by the same union.
A mediator would work with the unions and employers to determine representation among the four bargaining units.
Bargaining won’t begin until the new health structure is in place on April 1 and the bill would prohibit strikes or lockouts before then.
Leaders of the province’s public sector unions have promised to fight the bill, arguing it is an attack on labour rights.
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