As 75% of Nova Scotia's nurses prepared to resign and the province scrambled to evacuate patients, behind-the-scenes negotiations quietly led to an eleventh-hour agreement that will settle the labour dispute.
The government and 3 unions representing 12 300 nurses, physiotherapists and other health care workers agreed to an unusual form of arbitration called final-offer selection on July 5. Through this mechanism, a third-party arbitrator will settle the dispute by considering offers from both sides and selecting just one.
The arbitrator's decision, expected in mid-August, will likely only resolve monetary concerns. The government has also agreed to repeal Bill 68, the controversial anti-strike legislation.
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Donalee Moulton
Halifax