Several new long-term care homes have voted to strike, which brings the growing list up to nearly 30 CUPE facilities across Nova Scotia.
The main issues on the table include staffing, job security and wages.
“We’ve reached a breaking point,” admitted CUPE 1485 President Ashton Brown.
“And that can be seen across the province. Long-term care workers are overworked and underpaid and when we ask for help, or for recognition of the vital work we do, the government’s response is to offer us almost nothing at the bargaining table.”
Over the last couple of weeks, the following long-term care homes voted in favour of a strike:
• Inverary Manor in Inverness
• My Cape Breton Home in Sydney
• MacGillivray Guest Home in Sydney
• Maple Hill Manor in New Waterford
• St. Anne Community and Nursing Care Centre in D’Escousse
• Shoreham Village Senior Citizens Home in Chester
• Maplestone Enhanced Care in Halifax
• Oakwood Terrace Workers in Dartmouth
• Queens Manor Nursing in Liverpool
Recently, the Minister Adams praised the Houston government for offering of free tuition for Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) and the addition of new beds, however the union says these steps alone will not fix the current issues being faced in long-term care.
“Offering free tuition is great, but CCAs don’t just work in long term care, and the fact is people don’t choose to stay in the sector anymore. It feels like we’ve been shouting this from the rooftops for years now,” explains CUPE Long-Term Care Coordinator Tammy Martin.
“Long-term care pays poorly and is chronically understaffed, so people move on to other sectors. Recruitment isn’t an issue because people aren’t qualified; it’s an issue because people don’t want to work for nothing,”
She says Minister Adams can brag about adding more beds and cutting tuition costs for one of the many jobs essential to long-term care, however if the pay continues being below the living wage that the long-term care sector will still struggle.
