Health minister skips meeting with union leaders for other department matters
Posted Oct 1, 2014 06:25:35 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
After hours of bill readings, debate, and protest from the public sector, the Liberals’ new health authority bill is going before the law amendments committee, but he man representing the government’s health department didn’t make it to his meeting with union leaders during yesterday’s lengthy session.
Health Minister Leo Glavine told Global News the bill to merge health authorities and reduce bargaining units is not about an attack.
“This isn’t about taking on the unions,” he said. “This is about creating a labour construct that’s in relation, now, to one employer. Before, we had nine employers.”
Glavine said he thinks the Liberals’ efforts will be applauded once the labour issues are sorted out.
But, according to the Chronicle Herald, the minister was unable to meet with union heads at Province House yesterday because of other “matters relating to his department.”
It’s not known if Glavine will be back to the legislature today.
If the bill continues to push forward, the bargaining units will be cut down to four by April 1.
Unions say the bill violates labour rights.
