Joan Jessome says province setting stage for imposed wage freeze

Despite ongoing contract talks, the head of Nova Scotia's largest public sector union says she believes the government is laying the groundwork for a legislated wage settlement to be imposed after the legislature resumes next month.

Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, made the comment Friday in reaction to Premier Stephen McNeil's public criticisms of Maritime Resident Doctors, a union which represents medical residents.

McNeil said Thursday that in seeking arbitration the medical residents were bargaining in bad faith, and he strongly urged their union to get back to the negotiating table.

Jessome said the premier's comments were calculated to reach more than just the medical residents.

"The message was as much meant for us as it was for them," Jessome said in an interview.

The NSGEU is currently negotiating for 7,600 civil servants including clerical, corrections and social workers.

However, Jessome said it's tough to actually negotiate because the government has set pre-determined conditions.

In August, the government said it wanted five-year deals with no increases in the first three years and increases of one per cent in each of the final two years. Within that framework the unions can suggest ways to find program savings that can be used for wage increases.

The cash-strapped government has said even a one per cent increase in public sector salaries would add $52 million a year to expenses.

Jessome said there were two negotiating sessions last week with two more scheduled for the coming week, although Monday's meeting was postponed by the government so it could consider costing.

"We would prefer not to go to arbitration . . . but the premier is not at the table and he's bargaining our contract in the public," Jessome said.

'He's going to bring in legislation'

On Thursday McNeil wouldn't say whether the government is considering legislation in order to avoid arbitration. He was also asked whether the province could afford to have an arbitrator decide contracts.

"I would say to you that arbitrators do not take into account taxpayers' ability to pay," said McNeil.

With the premier's view of arbitration and with health care sector talks yet to begin, Jessome said she has no doubt about what comes next.

"He's going to bring in legislation," said Jessome. "He's trying to set the stage and trying to say that we don't want to bargain which is just false."

The legislature opens for its fall sitting Nov. 12.