Thousands of health care workers have accepted a new deal which gives them a 5.5 per cent pay bump over the next three years.
Eighty-two per cent of union members who voted chose to accept the contract.
Highlights of this agreement include:
- A 5.5% wage increase for all pay grades (1.5% effective Nov. 1st, 2020, 1.5% effective Nov. 1st, 2021, 1.5% effective Nov. 1st, 2022, and 1% effective the final day of the agreement, Oct.31st, 2023);
- Additional wage increases for Care Team Assistants (CTAs), amounting to 2% on date of ratification and 3% on June 1st, 2022;
- Matching acute care paramedics’ rates of pay to those of IOUE retroactive to Nov. 1st, 2020;
- Creation of a joint Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation Committee, composed of equal representation from employers and the unions.
“These workers are dedicated to their jobs, and they have stepped up for Nova Scotians in a very big way throughout this pandemic,” said NSGEU President Jason MacLean, “We are pleased wewere ultimately able to negotiate an agreement with their employers and government that begins to get them back on track to where they need to be: leading in Atlantic Canada.”
As part of the bargaining process, the unions conducted extensive wage analysis, comparing the wages of many health care occupations throughout the country. That analysis showed that wagesfor many of Nova Scotia’s health care workers have fallen below where they should be in comparison to other provinces. This is in large part due to seven years of austerity by the Provincial government.
“The wage improvements in this new agreement are a positive step forward, particularly for Care Team Assistants, in recognizing the value of these frontline workers,” said Unifor AtlanticRegional Director Linda MacNeil. “This contract provides a solid foundation to build on to keep and attract healthcare workers to provide vital services to Nova Scotians.”
A tentative deal was reached last week.
The contract is effective from November 1st,2020 to October 31st, 2023 and covers 7,500 health care workers in a wide variety of roles at Nova Scotia Health throughout the province and the IWK in Halifax.
