by The Liberal government’s essential services legislation was passed this morning after an all-night session in the Legislature.
Bill 37 will force striking registered nurses in Halifax’s Capital Health District back to work.
All six NDP members in the House rose to speak for about an hour, delaying passage of the bill while striking nurses and union supporters held a noisy demonstration outside.
Bill 37 applies to about 40,000 nurses and other health care workers, including paramedics and ambulance dispatchers.
It requires employees and employers to reach an essential-services agreement before workers can go on strike.
The registered nurses in Halifax’s Capital Health District walked off the job in a legal strike yesterday morning over the issue of mandated nurse to patient ratios.