Efforts to end the long-term care strike in Nova Scotia have hit a bump in the road.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees said locals 1259 and 2007, which represent Admiral and White Hills Long Term Care Centres and Bay Side Home, are still unable to resolve issues despite the tentative agreement reached on June 6.
“It’s disappointing,” said CUPE Long Term Care Coordinator Kim Cail. “After eight weeks on the picket line and provincial negotiations settling the wages, you’d think employers would be motivated to conclude bargaining at individual local tables, but these employers are unwilling to bend on anything.”
According to CUPE, the owners of these three homes are refusing to settle articles related to standby pay and mandated time off in the schedules.
“Residents of these homes are still being cared for under the essential services agreements, but they could be back to normal staffing levels right now,” said Cail. “Instead, these employers are refusing to pay workers who are required to be on call after their shifts to handle any issues that arise or ensure workers have a minimum number of hours off between shifts. Seems ridiculous to me.”
Earlier this month, workers at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Halifax, which acts as the lead table for the union, voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement.
Without an agreement since October
The employees’ collective agreements expired in October 2023. The union was pushing for higher wages, better benefits and other improvements.
At one point, a union official said the main goal was to get every member closer to a living wage, which refers to the rate of pay needed to cover basic living expenses.
Among those who walked off the job April 13 were nurses, continuing-care assistants and housekeeping staff. Essential services, however, were maintained throughout the strike, as required by legislation. But many physiotherapists, occupational therapists and recreational therapists worked reduced hours.