NSGEU lets vote deadline slide, calls government’s bluff

HALIFAX – The province’s biggest union says it won’t hold a contract ratification vote before a government imposed deadline.

On Wednesday, Roland King, executive director of labour/employee relations and benefits, sent a letter to the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union demanding that the union vote on a tentative agreement for its civil servants by December 7.

READ MORE: Rejection of wage offers to Nova Scotia unions could lead to legislation: Premier

The letter also requested a reply by Thursday at 9 am, confirming the ratification vote would go ahead.

King ended the letter with a threat that the offer could be rescinded if the NSGEU doesn’t hold the vote by the deadline.

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“If the ratification is delayed, suspended or deferred in any manner we will consider our options including withdrawal of the offer of November 13, 2015,” King said in the letter.

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "If the ratification is delayed, suspended or deferred in any manner we will consider our options including withdrawal of the offer of November 13, 2015," King said in the letter.

The NSGEU is calling the government’s bluff, announcing that it didn’t respond to the letter by the Thursday morning deadline.

“The government has no authority to tell a union when to conduct a vote,” Joan Jessome, president of the NSGEU said Thursday.

“The letter was premature, unprofessional, and borders on bad faith bargaining.”

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "The letter was premature, unprofessional, and borders on bad faith bargaining."

The union’s executive and bargaining committee are meeting Thursday evening to determine their next move. Jessome said a vote will still happen, just not by the December 7 deadline.

READ MORE: NSGEU civil servants reach tentative deal with NS government

The union delayed its vote on Wednesday after the province’s teachers rejected a similar contract offer on Tuesday.

-With files from The Canadian Press

SEE BELOW: The letter addressed to Robin MacLean of the NSGEU, from Roland King