N.S. long-term care workers hold rallies ahead of planned strike

Thousands of long-term care workers in Nova Scotia are set to go on strike on Monday.

Long-term care workers held rallies across Nova Scotia on Friday ahead of a planned strike that’s expected to impact more than 20 facilities.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) said workers from 22 care homes submitted their 48-hour strike notice on Friday, with more sites expected to join them in the following week.

More than 2,200 workers are expected to be on the picket line at 7 a.m. on Monday, according to CUPE.

“It’s not a choice any of us are making lightly, but it feels like that’s the only one we can make after years without a contract and months without any real bargaining,” said Ty Loppie, CUPE Long Term and Community Care committee communications officer.

Loppie says they make the lowest amount for long-term care workers in all of Atlantic Canada.

“People can’t survive on $18.77 an hour. People are living paycheque to paycheque. Some people are forced to live out of their car because they can’t afford rent,” he said.

John Hutton has family in long-term care. His grandmother is a resident in Saint Vincent Nursing Home and has been for a few years.

“Their working conditions are her living conditions,” he said.

Hutton also used to work at the same nursing home washing dishes.

“I saw what was going on in our seniors’ care system. And that was more than a decade ago, and it changed me for life,” he said.

“You have burnt out, overworked, stressed out nurses, PCWs, and LPNs doing the absolute best they can with very limited resources.”

Loppie says strike action comes after being pushed into a corner in negotiations.

“We refuse to accept less than what our workers deserve,” he said.

“It’s been like talking to a wall with the government. They’ve been offering the same deal each round. They’ve been very frustrating to deal with.”

In an emailed statement, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care Barbara Adams said the province has offered CUPE a deal already accepted by 27 unionized long-term care facilities, home care and hospitals.

“Unfortunately in long-term care, CUPE has rejected the offer outright without giving members the opportunity to vote, despite accepting it for home care and hospitals,” Adams said. “This is concerning, and I sincerely hope CUPE leadership reconsiders and lets members vote on a deal that impacts them directly.”

The full list of affected care homes is:

• St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Halifax
• Admiral Long Term Care Centre in Halifax
• Maplestone Enhanced Care in Halifax
• Harbourstone Enhanced Care in Sydney River
• Ocean View Continuing Care in Dartmouth
• Glasgow Hall in Dartmouth
• Bisset Court in Dartmouth
• Alderwood Guest Home in Baddeck
• Richmond Villa in St. Peter’s
• Bayside Home in Barrington Passage
• Seaview Manor in Glace Bay
• Maritime Odd Fellows in New Glasgow
• Queen’s Manor in Liverpool
• St. Joseph’s Villa de Lac in Dayton
• Roseway Manor in Shelburne
• The Birches in Musquodoboit Harbour
• Surf Lodge in Lockeport
• Ivy Meadows in Beaver Bank
• Celtic Court in Membertou
• St. Anne Nursing Care Centre in Arichat
• Ryan Hall in Bridgewater
• The Meadows in Yarmouth

Taylor Johnston with CUPE previously told CTV News Atlantic the affected care facilities will be reduced to essential services, which will vary depending on the site.

CUPE represents 52 long-term care facilities in the province. It has been engaged in negotiations with the Nova Scotia government for months over a new deal. Their final scheduled conciliation meeting was held in late March.

The province said there are 143 long-term care homes in Nova Scotia, many of which aren’t represented by CUPE and won’t be impacted by the strike.

CUPE held rallies in Halifax, New Glasgow, Yarmouth and Port Hastings on Friday.

“Everyone gets old,” says Hutton.

“Everyone wants to make sure that when they get old, they will have the support they need. And when their family members get older and have advanced care needs, that they will have that support.”

With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Vanessa Wright

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