N.S. long-term care workers at 3 sites back on strike over ‘local issues’: CUPE

Hundreds of long-term care workers across Nova Scotia have resumed a strike that appeared to have ended earlier this month.

Despite reaching a tentative agreement with the Nova Scotia government earlier this month, three long-term care homes are going back on strike over “local issues,” according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

Last week, CUPE, which represents 52 long-term care homes in the province, said St. Vincent’s Nursing Home workers ratified a tentative deal with the government. They noted other CUPE locals would hold their own ratification votes on the proposal and potentially end the provincewide strike that began on April 13.

CUPE says hundreds of workers at the Admiral and White Hills long-term care centres in Halifax and the Bay Side Home in Barrington have returned to the picket line over issues with the employers.

“The owners of these 3 homes, GEM Health Care Group Ltd. and Bayside Home Corporation, refuse to settle articles related to standby pay, which would bring an end to unpaid work in the home, and mandated time off in the schedules, which would ensure a certain number of hours off between scheduled shifts,” a news release from CUPE reads.

Kim Cail, long-term care coordinator with CUPE, said the resident at the three homes are still being cared for under the essential services agreement.

“They could be back to normal staffing levels right now,” Cail said in the release. “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.”

Throughout the two-month strike, CUPE said they were looking for improved wages. Following the tentative agreement, they said they got a minimum $5 raise for all workers and additional wages for supervising and training students.

At the height of the strike, roughly 3,600 workers at 36 long-term care sites were on the picket line.

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