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NSGEU wins dispute with Nova Scotia government over layoffs

The union representing employees who were laid off as a result of the closure of the Nova Scotia economic and rural development department has won a dispute with the provincial government.

On Thursday, arbitrator Bruce Outhouse found that the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union had a legitimate grievance against the government in how it handled finding new positions in government for the employees who lost jobs as a result of the department closing.

At issue was when the government is required to put out a call for voluntary resignations during the process of finding new positions for employees. In this case, Outhouse found that the province’s “refusal” to issue calls for voluntary resignations “violated” parts of the civil service contract.

In an emailed statement to its members, the NSGEU called it a “significant” decision and a “tremendous victory for the NSGEU civil service members.”

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The government says it and the NSGEU “had a difference in the interpretation of the procedure” for layoffs and displacements.

“We received the arbitrator’s decision this morning and are still reviewing the decision and determining next steps,” spokesperson Marla MacInnis said.

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