The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says it plans to file for arbitration tomorrow after talks with the province broke down, yesterday.
NSGEU president Jason MacLean says the government hasn’t changed its stance on any key issues or its last offer that includes a 3.5 per cent wage increase over four years.
It also includes the government’s desire to end the public service award and MacLean says the union does not want to give up benefits achieved in past bargaining efforts.
MacLean adds the union agreed to extra conciliation dates under the condition the government would not stand in the way of arbitration if talks failed.
Meanwhile, Labour Relations Minister Mark Furey says the government values civil servants and respects their collective bargaining rights.