HALIFAX – Arbitrator James Dorsey awarded the Clerical bargaining unit to NSGEU on Wednesday. A surprising move, considering Dorsey was fired by the province a few days earlier.
Last Friday, Nova Scotia’s Health Minister said Dorsey was “finished,” claiming he had to failed to fulfill his mandate by not determining representation for all four bargaining units. Glavine said Dorsey’s ruling released on Friday had only clearly assigned the Health Care bargaining unit to NSGEU.
“We have to now finish the job that Mr. Dorsey failed to do for the province,” said Glavine on Wednedsay, adding that Dorsey “has no authority at this stage to be presenting further alternatives.”
Glavine has rejected Dorsey’s latest ruling. He said the province will be introducing legislation to determine which of the unions will represent the remaining three bargaining units of Nurses, Clerical and Support.
NSGEU’s president said she’s confident Dorsey still has the authority to issue rulings.
“I would assume that he would know if he had the power to issue an order this morning, so I’m saying the arbitrator knew what he was doing, Glavine may not,” said Joan Jessome.
Jessome warns her union will take legal action if the government goes against the arbitrator’s rulings.
“Whatever action they take following today, to take either Clerical or Health Care from NSGEU, while we were awarded by an arbitrator they put in place, will require some further court action by this union,” she said.
Leo Glavine says his government has accepted Dorsey’s awarding of Health Care to NSGEU last week, but the remaining three bargaining units are still on the table.
Glavine says the government’s next steps will be discussed at Cabinet on Thursday morning.
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