Officials with the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union say their members at Sherbrooke Village are willing to do what it takes to be treated fairly and get a collective agreement.
Talks are scheduled to resume Friday.
Jason MacLean, the NSGEU’s president, says a strike vote won’t be part of immediate discussions, but he doesn’t think it would be difficult to achieve if members don’t get the respect they deserve.
He says he believes they’ve been without a contract for three years; they were in conciliation, but it stopped as a result of the proclamation of Bill 148 in August.
MacLean tells The Hawk officials with the provincial government have intervened during talks in the past.
“There’s uncertainty around the province- we have a government that does not want people to have settled contracts,” he says. “They’ve interfered with different bills, and not only that, they’ve stuck their hands in and interfered at the table, which has happened here- the employer has actually admitted that has happened.”
MacLean says a steady paycheque is very important for employees, who are seasonal workers.
“I couldn’t believe the work that our members do- I’m quite impressed with it,” he says. “Everything is dated to the time, and it’s just great work- it’s such a great representation of Guysborough Co.”
MacLean says there are roughly 40 employees at Sherbrooke Village, which is the only living museum in the province.
Photo credit: Sherbrooke Village (www.SherbrookeVillage.NovaScotia.ca)