Halifax health-care workers vote on strike

The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union says services will take a hit if health-care workers go on strike, but Capital Health's emergency services will still be provided.

Nearly 3,000 strike-vote ballots were cast by members of Local 42 and will be counted beginning at 1:30 p.m.onMonday.

Union president Joan Jessome says Local 42 and the Capital District Health Authorityhave an emergency services agreement in place in case of a strike or lockout. It keeps services like emergency rooms running, but not at full capacity.

She says the two sides will return to the bargaining table April 3 for three days of talks.

Jessome said if the strike vote passes and a deal cannot be reached, the union will ask the conciliator to file his report. Members could be on the picket lines about two weeks after that.

The union's 3,500 members include occupational therapists, medical lab technicians and emergency room paramedics.