Two more long-term care facilities in Nova Scotia are taking steps toward job action.

Workers at Northside Community Guest Home voted 97 per cent in favour of a strike mandate, citing low wages, and overwork due to understaffing.

“The last thing we want is to end up on strike but the reality is that long term care workers are at their breaking point,” says CUPE 1876 President Wanda Bond.

This follows workers at Ivy Meadows who also voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate.

The union representing staff, CUPE 3618, says 94 percent of members supported the move, which adds Ivy Meadows to a growing list of long-term care homes seeking higher wages and stronger recruitment and retention measures.

More than a dozen CUPE homes across the province have now taken similar votes in recent weeks.

CUPE 3618 President Denise Tanner says workers are doing everything they can to support residents, but feel the province has not kept wages in line with rising costs.

“It’s disheartening to know that we’re the lowest paid long-term care workers in the Atlantic provinces and have the government do nothing about it,” Tanner said. “We’re working hard each and every day to make our residents comfortable, but it feels like the government doesn’t think that’s worth a living wage.”

The union continues to point to chronic understaffing, noting that only half of long-term care facilities in Nova Scotia meet the recommended 4.1 hours of direct care per resident per day. CUPE Long Term Care Coordinator Tammy Martin says wages remain a major barrier to attracting and keeping staff.

CUPE filed for conciliation last week after talks with provincial negotiators stalled.

The vote does not mean a strike will occur, but it allows the union to take further action if discussions fail to progress.