Premier Stephen McNeil's history with labour unions

Since coming into power in 2013, Premier Stephen McNeil has had more than one showdown with public sector unions in Nova Scotia. 

In a throne speech in 2014, McNeil took aim at public sector labour costs, warning that the salaries of civil service workers could not be sustained given Nova Scotia's financial pressures.

McNeil said wage increases have exceeded the province's ability to pay in recent years and are adding to the mounting debt.

The McNeil government has successfully negotiated several labour issues over the years. The most recent challenge is to find common ground after the Nova Scotia Teachers Union voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. 

Here is a timeline of the Liberal government's labour agreements and disputes:

Feb. 28, 2014: Government introduces bill designed to end a strike by 400 Northwood home care workers.

March 21, 2014: Government introduces essential services bill for health, long-term care workers.

Sept. 29, 2014: Government introduces bill to merge health unions.

Nov. 12, 2015: Tentative agreement reached with 9,300 Nova Scotia Teachers Union members. 

Nov. 13, 2015: Tentative agreement reached with 7,600 civil servants.

Nov. 20, 2015: Tentative agreement reached with medical residents (385 residents in Nova Scotia, 540 across all of the Maritimes).

Dec. 1, 2015: Sixty-one per cent of teachers reject first tentative agreement.

Dec. 14, 2015: Government introduces Bill 148 which, if enacted, would impose government's wage offer to all public employees.

May 11, 2016: Government decrees management employees/non-union staff will get same wage pattern as civil service.

Sept. 7, 2016: Second tentative agreement reached with teachers.

Oct. 4, 2016: Seventy per cent of teachers reject second tentative agreement.

Oct. 25, 2016: Ninety-six per cent of teachers vote in favour of job action, including a strike.

Dec. 12, 2016: NSGEU employees are scheduled to begin voting on civil service tentative agreement.