Tentative agreement reached in bargaining for nurses’ collective agreement

A tentative agreement was reached today between the Health Employers' Bargaining Association and the Nurses' Bargaining Association.

HSA represents 1,000 Registered Psychiatric Nurses covered by the agreement. The current collective agreement expired March 31, 2014. The new agreement covers April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019.

Highlights include modest wage increases of 5.5 per cent over five years, plus eligibility for an “Economic Stability Dividend” to be paid if the province’s real gross domestic product exceeds the annual forecast. This mirrors the increases negotiated in other public sector agreements since 2014.

Other features of the tentative agreement include agreement on a framework to address workplace violence and psychological health and safety in the workplace.

Further details about the agreement will be provided to members in the days ahead, and all HSA RPNs will have an opportunity to vote on whether to accept or reject the proposed terms of the settlement.