Release:

Talks that began earlier this fall between the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union and the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON), successfully concluded late yesterday with a tentative agreement for nurses working in the community care sector.

The NSNU says this agreement reflects the determination of the bargaining team and a commitment on the part of the employer to improve work-life issues and provide the competitive wages and benefits these nurses deserve.

“I am proud of what our bargaining team accomplished, VON nurses themselves. They understand the difficulties of working on the road, and the complexities of the care they provide, and the solidarity it took to communicate their concerns and needs to their employer,” says Janet Hazelton, president of the Nurses’ Union.

Details of the agreement will be shared with nurses represented at the bargaining table by the NSNU before more information is released to the public. If ratified, this wage settlement is retroactive to November 1st, 2020 and will expire October 31st, 2025.

The NSNU will conduct ratification voting in the coming days. Voting results will be made public following the vote count and notification of the nurses impacted by the new agreement. The outcome of these negotiations will affect approximately 900 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, members of the NSNU.

VON nurses deliver care and services that offer clinical support in homes and communities across Nova Scotia (represented by NSNU) and Ontario.