Willing to talk, minister tells N.L. nurses

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is backing away from its hardline stand on its ongoing contract negotiations with the province's nurses.  

The Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses Union had refused to resume talks unless the government dropped certain preconditions, including a demand for a four-year contract.  

Finance Minister Jerome Kennedy called a news conference late Thursday to say the preconditions no longer apply and the nurses' union has no reason not to return to the bargaining table.

"What we are saying is that we are willing to discuss all issues," he said. "In relation to a four-year contract, obviously, we stated that that would be our preference — length of the contract, we can discuss that. We can discuss everything because the purpose is to come up with a package that is acceptable to all parties."  

Kennedy recently rejected a contract proposal from the union calling for a 16 per cent raise over two years. At the time, he said the province would only agree to a four-year contract.

The nurses also made a subsequent offer, saying they would give up their right to strike if the government would agree to binding arbitration, an offer the government also turned down.

Kennedy said that since then, the public has told government that it wants the nurse shortage resolved quickly.

Nurses across the province began holding strike votes Monday that will take six weeks to complete.