HALIFAX – The president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union says negotiations with the province have yet to start despite being without a contract for nearly two years.

According to Janet Hazelton, much of this can be attributed to the passage of Bill 37.

Hazelton says the union has to sit down with each unit individually to find out what essential services they will be providing if talks broke down.

She says that is an extraordinarily difficult task and tells news 95.7 the union has yet to begin the process….

“Healthcare bargaining unit is bargaining now, so that would be your techs…and others within the bargaining unit, and they’re just working with their essential services,” said Hazelton. “And when they’re completed with their essential services and their negotiations then we will start the nursing.”

She says the nurses union needs to come together with the four unions representing nurses to negotiate one collective agreement.

Hazelton anticipates negotiations will run over the course of several months.