Highway Workers Ratify New Contract

Nova Scotia's Highway workers have ratified a new contract. The new two-year contract provides for an increase of 1.9 per cent retroactive to Aug. 1, 1998 and a further 1.9 per cent in Apr. 1999. As was previously awarded to all government workers, CUPE 1867 members also receive the restoration of the 3 per cent wage rollback.

The contract gives highway workers many of the benefits available to other government workers. The contract provides for a streamlined job classification structure, and cross-training that could lead to additional employment opportunities.

"The highway workers provide a vital service to keep roads safe for Nova Scotia travellers," said Clifford Huskilson, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "They are an essential part of my department's team and I am pleased the contract has been ratified."

More than 1,600 full-time and seasonal workers are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1867. They are responsible for snow removal and ice control, ferry operations and maintenance of Nova Scotia's highways and bridges.

This represents the third negotiated settlement between the province and the NSGEU, NSTU and CUPE Local 1867, covering about 16,500 of the approximately 17,000 public and civil servants directly employed by the provincial government.