Province Responds to Union Concerns on Health Act

Changes to the proposed Health Authorities Act announced today by Health Minister Jamie Muir continue to support the government's new direction in health care delivery while clarifying provisions respecting employee collective agreements and labour legislation.

"This legislation is intended to improve community health care while building accountabilities into the system. Health care employees will help us achieve this goal," Mr. Muir said. "We listened to their ideas, and we have added language that clarifies the protections of employees benefits and rights as we transfer employment."

The Health Authorities Act, Bill 34, was introduced on March 29 to legislate nine new district health authorities. The authorities will replace the four regional health boards and be accountable to the communities they serve and the Department of Health for the decisions they make and the moneys they spend.

Apart from changing employers, the bill was not intended to affect employees. However, the Nova Scotia Government Employees' Union and the other health unions were concerned employees could be impacted. The proposed amendments help address these concerns by clarifying the role of the legislation and providing additional reassurances that employee and employer rights and obligations will be protected.

Provisions were also removed or clarified that had led to concerns that the minister of health or health authorities could override existing collective agreements or other legislative protections. These changes do not affect the bill's fundamental objectives.

Another significant amendment relates to the Nova Scotia Hospital, the last hospital to be operated by government employees in the province. Since the introduction of Bill 34, the NSGEU and the Nova Scotia Hospital have asked that the bill make the hospital a self-standing employer under the Trade Union Act.

Through added provisions, employees at the facility will no longer be civil servants, but rather Nova Scotia Hospital employees, the same as other hospital employees in the province. The collective agreements, rights and benefits of all employees will be transferred by the legislation.