Nova Scotia legislature passes contentious health merger bill

HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia legislature has passed a bill that cuts the number of union bargaining units and district authorities in the health-care system.

The Health Authorities Act passed by a vote of 42-5 with the Progressive Conservatives supporting the Liberal majority government’s bill and the NDP voting against it.

READ MORE: Disunity among health-care unions hurts fight against legislation: Jessome

The government decided to adopt a minor amendment from the New Democrats that would require all 37 community health boards to hold open meetings under the reorganized administrative structure.

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Under the new law, workers who perform similar jobs would be represented by the same union, which would be determined by a mediator.

If those mediated negotiations fail, an arbitrator would decide union representation, something the unions say violates their labour rights.