For immediate release
18 December, 2021
Halifax, NS – Eighty-seven percent of IAM Local Lodge 2797 members working for the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees’ Union (NSGEU) ratified their newest contract this week.
Matt Barnable, Special Representative for IAM Canada, who oversaw the last stages of the negotiations, said, “As I came into the process, we were headed to conciliation. That process allowed us to reach a better deal. Once we made some tweaks, the package was overwhelmingly approved.” Negotiations took more than one year to conclude.
The Negotiations Committee, consisting of Corrine Carey, Diane Briggs and Gina Boyd, worked hard at getting the deal. “With experience ranging from IT, to negotiations, to benefits experts; Corrine, Gina and Diane brought a lot of experience and knowledge with them that we utilized. Having union activists become active in the IAM enriches our organization. I am happy that we have a deal in place and our members can enjoy the holidays and look to get back to doing the important work of advocating for workers in the new year, Barnable said.
Improvements in the new contract include 3 years of parental leave, benefits, long-service bonus, increased bereavement leave, increased premium pay, increased meal allowance, diversity language, a wage increase, a signing bonus and a long-service bonus (to offset drug costs.
The 55 members of the unit are employed as Servicing Representatives and Administrative Staff for the NSGEU.
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For more information:
Matt Barnable (mbarnable@iamaw.org)
Special Representative, IAM Canada
