Members of NSGEU Local 42 will receive a 7.5% raise in a new three year deal. The union is made up of 3,600 health care workers, which cover just about every occupation aside from doctors and registered nurses.

The employer was offering 3% over three years but workers rejected and filed strike notice.

In a last minute effort to avoid a strike that would cripple the health care system, the two sides met for marathon negotiations and reached a tentative deal on April 25th.

It was then up to an arbitrator to decide on wages. The union was asking for between 6.5 and 9% but they’re taking a 7.5% raise over three years, retroactive to last November.

The raise is broken down to 2% for last year, 2.5% this year and 3% next year.