Thousands of long-term care workers (LTC) in Nova Scotia after growing frustrated after months of failed talks with the province over fair wages, standing their ground on what marked day four on the picket lines.
Minister for Seniors Barb Adams has made it clear she believes the deal her government offered is fair, considering other unions across the province have already accepted it. However, CUPE representatives tell us, there wasn’t much of a discussion.
President of CUPE 1245, Rowena Graham says, “They’re refusing to meet us halfway. They’ve shut down all talks. We met with them five times and five times was there was no discussion. So, this is why we’re here. We don’t like the deal that’s on the table presently.”
CUPE 1245 outside the Legion in Eastern Passage. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING
Graham points out that other unions signed their agreements with a “me too clause”. It means, if CUPE gets a better deal, they also get one. She says, it’s not fair that while they fight, rain or shine, others can coattail their efforts.
“Which is very discouraging for people that work hard. We do this job because we love the residents. They’re like our second family,” explains Graham. “But we’re all getting burnt out.”
Graham says there is one housekeeper who has been at Ocean View Continuing Care Centre for 15 years and is making $18.77 an hour.
“Her son just got hired at Costco last week and is making two dollars more an hour than she makes,” says Graham.
Continuing Care Assistants in Cape Breton say “we work short staffed all the time”
In Port Hawkesbury CCA’s say the current deal is the same one that was offered to them three years ago.
CCA Chandra Timmons says, “We didn’t agree to it then. We also just want fair wages. New Brunswick and P.E.I. got their $5 raise, so why can’t we have a fair raise? We deserve it, we do the same amount of care.”
CUPE members gathered in Port Hawkesbury. PHOTO: JESSICA LAING/ACADIA BROADCASTINGPresident of CUPE 3630, Laurie MacNeil, stresses that if working conditions do not improve, less people will want to enter the field.
“We need people to help look after our elders. Right now, we’re constantly short. We don’t get our vacations,” MacNeil explains. “So, in order to get people to come into the field, we have to have a livable wage.”
The strike kicked off on Monday, April 13, when workers at 24 nursing homes walked out, and support keeps growing, with one more home joining the picket lines in New Glasgow today and more planning to join in the coming days.
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