Premier Stephen McNeil intervenes in health-care restructuring

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil has personally intervened in the turbulent restructuring of labour bargaining in the province's health-care sector.

McNeil told reporters on Tuesday he is awaiting a union response to a proposal sent from his office on Friday. The provincial government and the four unions representing Nova Scotia health-care employees have agreed to a process to determine bargaining unit structures, the government said Tuesday.

The premier repeatedly refused to say whether the offer would allow the four unions to form an amalgamated union — an idea he has rejected in the past.

McNeil said Health Minister Leo Glavine has done "an outstanding job" with the restructuring, which shrunk 50 bargaining units down to four.

"I have full confidence in the minister," McNeil said.

Earlier this month, the Liberal government fired arbitrator James Dorsey after he failed to assign one union to represent each of the four bargaining units.

McNeil said Tuesday the government has finished with Dorsey.

Dorsey was hired last year to restructure health-care bargaining as part of a Liberal government initiative to streamline health-care administration.

He released his report last month but the government called his arbitration "inconclusive" and fired him — more than once.

Even after the initial dismissal, Dorsey released a decision giving the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union 4,000 clerical workers if they formed a new independent local.

The government rejected the order.

The Health Authorities Act requires separate bargaining units for nurses, health-care workers, clerical workers and support staff.