OPEN LETTER

Dear Premier:

Since the business community was first informed of your intent to introduce legislation to bring in First Contract Arbitration (FCA), we have been united and consistent in communicating our concerns. Collectively, our business associations represent tens of thousands of businesses and over 200,000 employees that work in all areas of the economy and in all communities. The people we represent – small-and medium-sized employers – are our province’s job creators. They are our risk-takers. We strongly believe we need to work together to create an environment that inspires more of them and we remain unanimous in our view that forging ahead with First Contract Arbitration will not help do this.

With one voice, we’ve asked why this legislation is needed. Your government has repeatedly heard that current labour relations environment in Nova Scotia is enviable. It has repeatedly heard that we have one of the lowest lost days due to labour disruptions in Canada.   It has heard that only three orders have been issued as a result of “bad faith bargaining” in the last 14 years; not all against employers. Still, our question fell on deaf ears.

United, we suggested improvements to the proposed legislation at Law Amendments contained in FCA legislation across the country that we believe maintains a commitment to collective bargaining to ensure that a third-party agreement is introduced only as a last resort. Such a principle exists in all FCA legislation – except for the model we seem to be intent on adopting. Again, we were ignored.

So today we are making one final plea: do not turn your back on the tens of thousands of businesses that have – in extraordinary fashion – joined together to urge you and your NDP colleagues to listen. These are not businesses looking for a bailout, these are not businesses asking for special treatment. These are businesses that are merely asking you and your caucus colleagues to align your priorities with those of Nova Scotians and focus on our real problems, rather than those that are fabricated.

Mr. Premier, there is still time to listen to our concerns and consider our amendments. By doing so you will illustrate that you understand the debate around FCA has evolved into a much wider concern within the business community. At its core, this is about how government involves job creators in decisions that will ultimately impact how they operate and whether or not their perspective matters. Business owners need confidence that their government listens and works with them to address their concerns. Now more than ever, they need you to give them this confidence.

So, together and united, Mr. Premier, we are urging you to step back, consider the messages your actions will be sending if you move forward, and compromise. We believe there is a win in this for us all.

Sincerely,

Atlantic Building Supply Dealers Association

Canadian Federation of Independent Business

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters

Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association

Construction Association of Nova Scotia

Canadian Taxpayers Federation

Contact Centre Nova Scotia

Halifax Chamber of Commerce

Hotel Association of Nova Scotia

Merit Contractors Association of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Chambers of Commerce

Nova Scotia Home Builders’ Association

Nova Scotia Road Builders Association

Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia

Retail Council of Canada – Atlantic Office

Sackville Business Association

Scotia Group of Companies

Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia

Truro and District Chamber of Commerce