Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions seeks mediation as contract talks stall

HALIFAX, NS — After months of negotiations, the Nova Scotia Council of Nursing Unions and their employers, Nova Scotia Health and the IWK, reached a deadlock on June 29 and failed to reach a final agreement.

The council will now submit an application to the Department of Labor in the hope that the mediation officer can broker a settlement acceptable to both parties.

Representatives said they remain committed to negotiating more competitive wages, benefits in addition to some of the contract languages ​​that will improve work-life issues.

The negotiations included 29 face-to-face negotiation sessions with representatives from all four trade unions and the employers’ group. More than 10,000 registered nurses, certified practice assistants and practice assistants have sat at the negotiating table.

The nurses have been without a contract since November 2020.