NS hospital administrative staff issues a strong strike vote
The first person you would normally see when you arrive at one of Nova Scotia’s hospitals could be on strike soon.
The 5,000 healthcare administrative workers who work in Nova Scotia’s 43 hospitals registered a strong strike vote after rejecting a tentative deal in April.
More than 81 percent of workers, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) and Unifor, voted in favor of the strike.
“There is not a single member of the public that goes to the hospital in Nova Scotia and has no contact with any of these members,” Bev Strachan, co-chair of the union negotiation team, said in a press release.
“They include the receptionist who checks you in for your appointment, the ward administrator who keeps patient wards running smoothly, and the technician who updates your medical records. Hospitals cannot function without them.”
It’s not clear when the administrative workers would be in a legal strike position, but the process doesn’t seem imminent. It would probably depend on a ruling from the labor council on staffing of essential services.
The 5,000 administrative employees work as clerks in all departments, equipment operators, administrative assistants, transcriptionists and medical records technicians, among others.
These members are highly skilled, according to the union release. To fill these positions, many must pass pre-application tests, undergo specific computer training, or come to the health authority with a post-secondary diploma.
“They include the receptionist who checks you in for your appointment, the ward administrator who keeps patient wards running smoothly, and the technician who updates your medical records. Hospitals cannot function without them.”
– Bev Strachan, Co-Chair of the Union Negotiation Team
“With the rejection of the previous offer and this strike vote, the members have clearly said that they are willing to fight for what they deserve,” said NSGEU chair Sandra Mullen.
“They’re trying to maintain the relativity of the bargaining units, which fell away during the last round of collective bargaining, and get recruiting and retention bonuses that recognize that many members have more than 25 years of service.”
The unions said in their release that in an earlier offer to members the government offered protection for seniors on maternity leave, new language on gender and discrimination, and improved language for furlough, but made no concessions on monetary issues raised by the union . negotiating team.
A spokeswoman for the NSGEU said on Monday that the negotiating team has not been called back to the table by the province since the preliminary deal was rejected. The province finances the health authority and the IWK Health Center which employ the administrative staff separately.
