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N.S. says long-term care union proposal ‘not feasible’ after talks fail

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Nova Scotia’s senior’s minister says the latest deal the union representing long-term care workers presented, was not feasible.

The statement by Barb Adams, Friday, comes four weeks after 3,000 CUPE members walked the picket lines and another round of bargaining.

Adams says they were optimistic when the union approached her office with an amended deal, Thursday.

“CUPE has been asking for almost double what has already been accepted by 27,500 employees working in home care, acute care and long term,” says Adams. “When we returned to the table, CUPE leadership started by asking for even more.”

She says the offer on the table includes:

  • wage increases of at least 12 to 24 per cent
  • retroactive pay dating back to 2023, meaning thousands of dollars in worker’s pockets right away
  • a 70 per cent increase in shift and weekend premiums, effective upon ratification
  • funding to enroll in a defined benefit pension plan for facilities that do not currently have one in place

Adams says the government calls on CUPE to “stop moving the goal post” and let their members vote on the offer presented.

Meanwhile, CUPE says they went into talks hopeful but that hope quickly died.

In a statement, Long Term Care Coordinator Kim Cail says, “The new offer which expires in 2028 was better than the last but would still leave support at just over $23 by the end. That’s not a living wage now and it certainly won’t be in 2028.”

The strike continued Friday with the addition of CUPE 3454 Shoreham Village, with two more next week to walk off the job, to make 32 facilities.

Barbara Adams

Minister says no talks planned with LTC strike in second week

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Seniors Minister Barb Adams says there are no plans to go back to the table with the union that represents thousands of long-term care workers who walked off the job more than one week ago.

Over 2,000 CUPE members from 25 nursing homes have been on strike since April 13, fighting for higher wages.

Four more facilities are set to join by Friday bringing the number up to 3,000.

In an interview with Acadia News, Adams says the deal is fair, holding her ground.

“CUPE has already accepted the deal twice in home care as well as in acute care and so there are almost 28,000 healthcare workers who already accepted this deal,” says Adams.

Adams says it includes a 12 minimum per cent increase up to a 24 per cent increase in pay that dates back to 2023, as well as $4 more an hour for evenings and weekends.

“If you work an evening weekend shift, it’s $8 more an hour than what people are already receiving,” adds Adams.

She says they are calling on CUPE to have their members vote on the offer.

Meanwhile, the union has made it clear they do not feel the $18.77 an hour wages they receive is enough and the deal offered is the same as three years ago.

A rally is planned for next week.

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LTC strike grows in N.S. as frustration boils over wage standoff

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Thousands of long-term care (LTC) workers in Nova Scotia are growing frustrated after months of failed talks with the provincial government over fair wages, standing their ground for day four on the picket lines.

Minister for Seniors Barb Adams has made it clear that she believes the deal her government offered is fair, considering other unions across the province have already accepted it. However, CUPE representatives tell us that there wasn’t much of a discussion.

President of CUPE 1245, Rowena Graham, says, “They’re refusing to meet us halfway, they’ve shut down all talks. We met with them five times, and five times there was no discussion, so this is why we’re here. We don’t like the deal that’s on the table presently.”

CUPE 1245 outside the Legion in Eastern Passage. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING

Graham points out that other unions signed their agreements with a “me too clause”, meaning that if CUPE gets a better deal, they also get one. She says it’s not fair that while they fight, rain or shine, others can coattail their efforts.

“Which is very discouraging for people that work hard. We do this job because we love the residents, they’re like our second family,” Graham explains. “But we are all getting burnt out.”

Graham tells us about one housekeeper who has been at the Ocean View Continuing Care Centre, represented by CUPE 1245, for 15 years and is currently still making $18.77/hr. She says, “Her son just got hired at Costco last week and is making $2 more an hour than she makes.”

Continuing Care Assistants in Cape Breton say ‘we work short staffed all the time’

In Port Hawkesbury, CCA’s say the current deal is the same one that was offered to them three years ago.

CCA Chandra Timmons says, “We didn’t agree to it then. We also just want fair wages. New Brunswick and P.E.I got their $5 raise, so why can’t we have a fair raise? We deserve it, we do the same amount of care.”

CUPE members gathered in Port Hawkesbury. PHOTO: JESSICA LAING/ACADIA BROADCASTING

President of CUPE 3630, Laurie MacNeil, stresses that if working conditions do not improve, less people will want to enter the field.

“We need people to help look after our elders. Right now, we’re constantly short. We don’t get our vacations,” MacNeil explains. “So, in order to get people to come into the field, we have to have a livable wage.”

The strike kicked off on Monday, April 13, when workers at 24 nursing homes walked out, and support keeps growing, with one more home joining the picket lines in New Glasgow today and more planning to join in the coming days.