‘Not safe work’: LTC leaders raise alarm over strike ESA conditions
Over the past eight weeks, striking long-term care workers say they have balanced heavy workloads with picket-line advocacy, and some say the Essential Services Agreement (ESA) meant to protect them is now doing more harm than good.
During an open town hall last month, many CUPE members told the bargaining committee they feel unheard, say they’re still performing full duties, and face threats from employers if they try to enforce the ESA.
CUPE’s coordinator for long-term care and lead negotiator, Kim Cail, says, “From the CCA’s point of view, the employer’s expectation now is that things are normal. That means the schedule of people getting things like regular baths and showers as opposed to bed baths are being implemented back in, but they’re still working with less staff.”
Several members also expressed concern about enforcing the ESA while protecting themselves.
“I am aware that there have been a few members that have been disciplined for refusing to do something the employer wants to do. My suggestion is to start using the Occupational Health and Safety Act.”
Cail adds that, “If they’re expecting one person to do the work that typically two people would be doing, it’s not safe work. For the employer to expect them to do that work by themselves, it puts them at risk of hurting themselves.”
She clarifies that existing legislation still applies despite the job action.
“The intimidation and the threats that some of the employers are doing are violating that Health and Safety Act.”
Cail also says more duties have been added to the ESA over the course of the strike, placing additional pressure on already burnt-out workers.
“The workload would be atrocious for the number of CCA’s that are in the building to try to run things as if it was a normal day,” said Cail.
‘The loss of three residents impacted my choices and decisions’
In a letter to Acadia News, Local 1782 Vice-President and strike coordinator Laurie Pottie described how the growing list of ESA duties is affecting her mental health.
She said, “People need to know the truth of the ESA that did not protect our residents. To be the individual who sat on that committee who decided essential over non-essential has affected myself personally. Choices made that keep me awake at night.”
Pottie said the strike has led to mental fatigue among coworkers, management, residents’ families, and community members, adding that some staff are facing limited time with their families and experiencing work-related physical injuries.
“What was the purpose of an untested legislation for an ESA? Was it to protect our residents or was it a way to find cutbacks? “It caused loneliness, heartache, and isolation that I feel contributed to the loss of at least two of our residents,” Pottie tells Acadia News.
She adds that the workload was hard enough to accomplish on a normal day, and that teamwork gets them through. However, with chronic short staffing issues, everything is more challenging to maintain.
Cail says the ESA was initially negotiated for a strike expected to last “a week or two” and alleges employers have pushed to add staff positions previously deemed non-essential since the strike began on April 13.
So far, about 36 homes have joined the picket lines, with over 3,600 workers involved across Nova Scotia fighting higher wages. However, the province has maintained that the deal they are offering is fair and have encouraged members to vote on the offer presented.
Acadia News reached out to the province for further comment, but didn’t hear back in time for publishing.
