Health-care unions preparing for a strike at hospitals around Nova Scotia say they have new proof to back up their bargaining claims.
The five unions representing about 20,000 health-care workers say nearly $60 million in pension surpluses have been used by employers without the knowledge or consent of workers.
Since 1997, employers have said the pension plan has produced no surplus. But Thursday, the Nova Scotia Association of Health Organizations re-submitted their financial statements.
"I've never before seen annual information returns, which are required by every province, where there is such inaccurate reporting," said Susan Philpott, a lawyer acting for the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
The financial statements now say employers have used $58 million of pension surpluses to cover their pension contributions.
Karen MacKenzie, chair of CUPE's bargaining committee, said the practice must stop.
"At this point, all we need the employers to do is to commit to not taking any more of the money out and to putting in what they should," MacKenzie said.
More than 3,000 CUPE members could walk off the job on Nov. 1. Members of the Canadian Auto Workers could join them two days later.
The new figures were submitted to the province's superintendent of pensions. A spokesperson says it will take some time to examine the documents.
Health Minister Chris d'Entremont told reporters on Friday that he's not aware of the information.
"I haven't seen a paper that they brought forward yesterday. The first I hear about it is from this," d'Entremont said.
The pension issue is a key point in the negotiations. The union says it won't talk about any other issues until this one is settled.
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