Workers at some Nova Scotian nursing homes could go on strike soon.
Final conciliation talks between long-term care workers represented by CUPE and the province are scheduled for Tuesday.
Workers at dozens of homes have voted in favour of job action, they’ve been without a contract since October, 2023.
Information pickets were held outside of 20 seniors homes across the province on Monday.
They included Yarmouth to Eastern Passage, to Port Hawkesbury, Inverness, St. Peters, up to Sydney and more.
Greg Williams is the head of CUPE workers at the Meadows in Yarmouth, and says they’re asking for five dollars more per hour.
“We want the government to actually come to the bargaining table. One of the sessions we were at, they were only there for 16 minutes. They didn’t want to talk about issues important to us. We haven’t had a real discussion yet, so how can we say that we’re bargaining?,” said Williams.
He says affordability is a real issue, along with staff shortages.
“Workers can’t pay their power bills, the price of diesel has doubled since the winter started. We have members living in their cars or with family, so we’re asking for that flat raise on top of the economic adjustments that the government has told us to take or leave.”
Williams, who sits at the bargaining table, adds that out of 51 CUPE nursing homes, about 40 could have members undergo strike action in the first weeks of April.
That would mean unionized workers would reduce their duties to essential work only, with the most vital care provided, but nothing more.
Standing firm
At the Villa St. Joseph-du-Lac in Dayton, Yarmouth County, about a dozen CUPE members rallied outside.
CUPE-lead Samantha Newell says they’re standing firm on five more dollars an hour.
“Long-term care facilities across Nova Scotia are ready to fight the fight, and we’re looking forward to it. The province has brought the same offers the last four times to the bargaining table,” said Newell.
She says there are worker shortages, and they want fair wages that reflect the work they put in.
“We’re out here today, it’s quite chilly. But I think you’ll get used to seeing us.”
Long-Term Care Coordinator, Tammy Martin shared the purpose of their rallies.
“We want to inform the public of what could be coming in long-term care in the next couple of weeks,” said Martin.
“So, we have handouts to let them know why we’re outside, and that if we don’t get a deal, we will be on the picket line at nursing homes all across this province.”
She shared that the current offer is the wage pattern is 3 per cent, 2 per cent, 2 per cent, and 2 per cent over 4 years, which would be around 18 cents per hour per year, and they currently make $18.77 an hour.
“I think government should be embarrassed to death to come to the table with that type of wage offer when we have folks living in poverty,” expressed Martin.
CUPE workers from the Villa St. Joseph-du-Lac in Dayton, Yarmouth County rally outside on March 23, 2026 PHOTO: ACADIA NEWS
Minister ‘confident’ deal will be reached
Meanwhile, Seniors and Long-Term Care minister Barbara Adams assured last month that plans are in place in case of a disruption.
“Those essential services are going to be maintained across every nursing home in the province. That’s a commitment that all long-term care facilities make, and we’re working closely with them,” said Adams after a February Cabinet meeting.
Adams remained confident that a deal would be reached, and says the province has settled over 400 contracts since 2021.
“I have every reason to expect that we’ll have a satisfactory settlement. In the event that doesn’t happen, there are processes in place for anyone receiving any kind of healthcare.”
She adds they’ll make sure residents at the homes are getting the care they need.
– with files from Jessica Laing
