Arbitration Decision Delivered

The Public Service Commission received the interest arbitration award relating to civil service bargaining unit employees today, May 3.

"We are pleased to have the board's decision. Employees deserve an agreement that is fair and equitable. We are now looking forward to moving on," said Michael Baker, Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission.

Highlights of the board's decision include:

• A four-year contract ending March 31, 2004;
• An annual wage increase of 2, 2, 2 and 3 per cent over this four-year period;
• A lump-sum payment of 3 per cent based on salary as of March 31, 2000; and
• A rate-per-kilometre increase from 31.5 to 34 cents for the first 16,000 kilometres travelled.

Negotiations between the province and the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) with respect to civil servants are conducted under the framework of the Civil Service Collective Bargaining Act. In circumstances where government and NSGEU do not agree on revisions to the collective agreement, the act provides that the dispute is resolved through interest arbitration.

The contract (Master Agreement) between NSGEU and the province expired March 31, 2000. This contract affects 5,300 employees in the provincial government.