Nova Scotia public sector unions wary about upcoming contract talks
'I hope they don't use this as a ploy to say they've consulted with the unions'
The heads of two public sector unions are apprehensive about an upcoming meeting with Nova Scotia Finance Minister Randy Delorey with a marathon of collective bargaining set to begin.
Danny Cavanagh, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Nova Scotia, said he will meet with the minister but is wary about the outcome.
"This can't be about one meeting. This is what you are going to get — take it or leave, it's our way or the highway kind of stuff. That's not going to do anyone any good," he said.
"I hope they don't use this as a ploy to say they've consulted with the unions."
Delorey is calling for a meeting next week with unions as many collective agreements have expired.
In a letter to unions, the finance minister says he wants to discuss a "new approach" to collective bargaining next Tuesday, but does not spell out what that means.
A spokesman in Delorey's office said the minister is committed to negotiations but he's new to the portfolio and wants to have a good discussion with unions so he can get started on the right foot.
Government should be in negotiations
"Maybe this innovative thing they are talking about is that they are going to come to the table this time. That would be a welcome thing for the unions," said Janet Hazelton, president of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union.
"The government should be at the table. What happens is that at the last 12 hours or so when we get down to the final bits and pieces of the collective agreement, the government gets involved. They should be sitting at the table instead of in a backroom making decisions," she said.
Cavanagh said his members would like to see the government come up with some innovative ideas to create revenue instead of defaulting to service cuts.
"They want to talk about innovative ways and we hear that a lot these days but we seem to have a government that likes to talk the talk but not walk the walk," said Cavanagh.
Both union leaders said wages have to remain competitive with other provinces such as New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Overtime costs could increase
"We've always said as long as we remain competitive with other provinces, we are OK. If we are not competitive, it won't matter what the wage package is, because overtime will climb and climb," Hazelton said.
"We end up paying for it on the other end in overtime,"
Workers will leave the province, not just in health care, Cavanagh said.
"There are broader implications to all of this stuff."
He added that workers will question why they should be on the receiving end of cuts when "university presidents are paid a full salary for sitting at home doing nothing" and the province is "handing the Royal Bank $22 million."