Tentative agreements reached with nurses union

FREDERICTON (GNB) - The provincial government has reached new tentative collective agreements with two bargaining units represented by the New Brunswick Nurses Union.

The two units include more than 6,000 registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse managers and nurse supervisors working in hospitals, public and community health programs, Ambulance NB and extra-mural programs.

"This tentative agreement is a result of working in a spirit of respect and collaboration," said Premier Blaine Higgs. "I thank the negotiating teams on both sides of the table for their hard work. We acknowledge there remains plenty of work ahead of us as we look to our common goal of stabilizing our health-care system and improving it to ensure it is sustainable for the future."

"Back in August, nurses, Part III and nurse managers and nurse supervisors bargaining units rejected the previous tentative agreements that were achieved," said Paula Doucet, nurses union president. "We returned to the table with government and the Conciliation Board, which has unanimously recommended two revised tentative agreements for the members of these bargaining units. We look forward to sharing the details with them soon and bringing it back for ratification."

The parties have agreed to withhold details of the agreements pending their ratification.