HALIFAX – Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says he’s opposed to amending a health-care labour bill that has prompted protests at the legislature and a rebuke from a senior lawyer who says the legislation will create a labour relations disaster.
McNeil says that despite three days of protest marches around the legislature, he’s been encouraged by workers across the province who he says want an overhaul of the health sector’s system for contract bargaining.
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His hardline stand came as the legislature’s law amendments committee heard from health-care workers and their supporters who say Bill 1 is a draconian attempt to squelch hard-won labour rights.
The legislation would merge health-care bargaining units, cutting them to four from 50 by April 1.
Labour lawyer Ray Larkin, who has trade unions among his clients, told the committee that if the bill passes it will be a disaster for labour relations because health-care employers will be given a say in what union represents their employees, but the employees will have no say at all.
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McNeil argues the legislation would protect the province’s four main health-care unions and the benefits employees have earned.
But he says the reorganization will also make the system more sustainable.
The government is aiming to have a final vote on the bill this week.
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