Canadian Business Wire

Rick Clarke of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour says that Nova Scotia Premier Rodney MacDonald is distorting facts around the issue of allowing health care workers and their unions to strike.

Premier Rodney MacDonald and his government are attempting to win support for their proposed ban on health care strikes in the province.

"The premier is trying to mislead the public by suggesting in the media that eight provinces have banned health care strikes. This is simply false. Only three provinces have done so and for him to suggest otherwise is a desperate attempt to distort the facts," says Clarke.

At issue is the ability for health care workers to strike, and in what manner. The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour says the issue has become one-sided and that under closer examination, "Seven provinces in Canada continue to allow health care workers to strike. The eight provinces the premier is talking about have so-called 'essential services' legislation, which is nowhere near the same thing."

A coalition has been formed to try to prevent the legislation in its current form and they include, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Auto Workers Union, Nova Scotia Government Employees Union, Service Employees International Union, Nova Scotia Nurses Union, and the International Union of Operating Engineers.