Nova Scotia’s Liberal government ratifies labour deal with 6,500 health workers

Nova Scotia’s Liberal government has reached a three-year collective agreement with about 6,500 health-care workers.

The province says the deal ratified today provides wage increases of 1.5 per cent per year with an additional one per cent in the final year.

Premier Iain Rankin says in a news release the deal with the Health Care Council of Unions will ensure stability in the delivery of health-care services after a year and a half of challenges and uncertainty.

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The council represents lab technicians, pharmacists and other regulated health-care professionals employed by the province’s health authorities.

The term of the new agreement is from Nov. 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2023.

The province says the cumulative cost of the wage increases will be about $23 million annually by the end of the third year of the agreement.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 14, 2021.

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