PRINCE.EDWARD.ISLAND (CBC) - An arbitrator has been appointed to settle a contract dispute for 2,600 civil servants on Prince Edward Island.

Members of the Union of Public Sector Employees have been without a collective agreement for close to 14 months.

The arbitrator is Susan Ashley, a Nova Scotia lawyer who specializes in labour and employment arbitration. She's expected to meet with the two sides in June.

Talks between UPSE and the government broke off in March, after which union president Shelley Ward expected an arbitrator to be appointed in short order. Ward told CBC News Thursday the union members are relieved an arbitrator has finally been appointed, but they're still lobbying the government for an immediate contract deal.

"The pressure certainly is on. We've been asking our members to contact their MLAs and to contact the employer," she said.

"The door is open a little ajar there, if they want to reconsider our last offer, and maybe we can get it done before we go to arbitration."

Ward said the workers are frustrated by the amount of time it's taking to get a new contract.

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