HALIFAX – Bill 148 has entered into second reading at the Nova Scotia Legislature.
Politicians spent Monday night debating the bill that would allow governing Liberals the power to set public sector wages for the next four years.
READ MORE: McNeil government uses rare midnight sitting for third bill
NSGEU, the province’s largest union had been at the legislature following the debate throughout the night.
“The expectation is that it will pass, the Liberal government isn’t listening to anybody,” NSGEU 1st Vice President Jason MacLean told Global News.
The bill proposes a financial settlement on 75,000 public servants that will see their wages frozen for the next two years. Those workers would then receive a three per cent increase over the remaining two years.
The financial settlement is the same as a deal recently rejected by the province’s 9,000 teachers, which caused one of the province’s largest public-sector unions to delay a ratification vote until mid-January.
The law introduced by the Liberal government would apply to all public service agencies and Crown corporations.
Motion to delay bill defeated
A motion presented by the NDP to have the bill delayed six months to give to government more time to reconsider, was defeated by a vote of 15-17 Tuesday morning.
“It’s no surprise they do have a majority government. They are being cowardly trying to ram this thing through so they can break for Christmas,” said MacLean.
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