Police presence at long-term care picket in Arichat, strike enters 6th week

There was a police presence in Arichat Tuesday morning as CUPE members entered their sixth week of strike action.

Thirty-four facilities are now on the picket lines with 3,300 workers fighting for higher wages after job action began April 13.

Union members from St. Anne’s tell Acadia News they changed locations to the St. Anne building under construction after receiving support from construction workers on site who are with a different union.

Mike Samson says after they set up shop, they were shocked when those members tried to cross their picket line.

“We’ve had different union members that have shown up here and they were like stunned that other union members would actually cross our picket line. They said they’ve been members for years and years and years and never in their lifetime would they have imagined that other unions would cross the picket line,” he said.

In response, Samson says, they tried to block the other union members from crossing their line, but police were called.

He says officers warned them they can’t prohibit others or they would be charged with mischief.

“So, we decided to let them in,” says Samson. “[Officers] weren’t really concerned about us being here because we were having a peaceful protest.”

“They were more concerned about letting the trucks off the road to not cause an accident.”

In a statement to our newsroom, RCMP say they were called to a protest on Highway 206, but no arrests were made.

“Public safety and security for all remain our top priority and officers proactively discussed public safety with those present,” says RCMP in a statement.