Union tells Halifax nurses to go back to work after strike declared illegal

Nurses who walked out on Capital Health on Tuesday have been told by their union leadership to go back to their next scheduled shift.

The Nova Scotia Labour Board issued a cease and desist order on Tuesday afternoon:

“The Board was satisfied after an investigation of the complaint by the Program Officer that a stoppage of work has occurred and is continuing contrary to the provisions of the Trade Union Act,” reads the notice. “Effective April 1, 2014 the Labour Board orders those employees who are members of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees’ Union, Local 97 who are participating in the illegal work stoppage to cease and desist from participating in an illegal work stoppage and to report to work forthwith and perform their lawful duties as assigned by their employer.”

NSGEU President Joan Jessome posted a notice on Facebook soon afterward.

“The union is asking all Registered Nurses to comply with the Labour Board order and report to their next scheduled shift,” said Jessome. “If your manager asks where you were, simply explain you were protesting this government’s anti-worker legislation.”

The union is still planning to go back on strike when it’s legal to do so.

“The NSGEU has given notice that we plan to hold a legal strike,” wrote Jessome. “Due to the incredible response of health care workers and concerned Nova Scotians speaking out against this legislation, it is now looking like we may be in a legal strike position as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday, April 3rd.

The Capital District Health Authority said about 30 per cent of scheduled registered nurses failed to show up for their shifts on Tuesday, as the NSGEU launched what the CDHA calls a dangerous, illegal strike.

“This is a disappointing day,” said Health Authority CEO Chris Power. She said the strike was undermining the hospitals’ ability to care for patients. CDHA said about 90 surgeries were postponed and an inpatient addictions unit was closed.

Power said discussions are continuing about repercussions for the nurses who did not report to work. She said no decisions have been made yet.

The Authority said emergency departments were staffed and operating as usual.

Management said it was the union that walked away from the table, and that the impasse in discussions came before the provincial government introduced essential services legislation.

Power urged nurses to return to work, saying the current staffing levels were unsustainable and put patients’ safety at risk.

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