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MAY 7

Province reveals latest offer to long-term care workers

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The Nova Scotia government released details of its latest offer to long-term workers in response to CUPE turning down an invite to the negotiating table.

Roughly 3,300 union members have been on strike since April 13, fighting for higher wages. There are now 35 facilities on the picket lines.

Seniors and Long-term Care Minister Barbara Adams issued an open letter Saturday evening.

The letter was addressed to “Long-Term Care Employees, Residents, Families, and Nova Scotians,” and said government representatives asked CUPE leadership on Friday to come back to the table to negotiate a settlement.

“We were disappointed that despite offering CUPE leadership to meet Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, they would not find the time to come back to the table until next week,” Adams wrote.

Adams said the government’s goal remains finding a resolution.

“Our government believes in the collective bargaining process,” the letter stated. “Over the past several years, we have successfully supported or negotiated almost 400 agreements across the public sector with minimal disruption to workers, families and services.

“We have done that by remaining respectful, staying open-minded and continuing to work toward solutions even when negotiations become difficult.”

Adams appealed directly to union members, noting the work they do is important to residents, families and communities.

In the letter, Adams said the government’s offer was substantially improved on May 7.

“We are uncertain whether CUPE shared the amendments with their members,” the letter stated. “We want to correct that.”

According to the letter, the province’s current offer includes:

  • Wage increases of 12 to 24 per cent over the first four years of the agreement
  • Retroactive pay to 2023
  • Increased evening and weekend premiums
  • Access to a defined benefit pension plan
  • An additional $2 per hour beginning in 2027 for employees earning under $23 an hour, new in this proposal
  • An additional 1.5 per cent increase for all workers in 2027, new in this proposal

Adams said the improvements were a direct response to the concerns of frontline workers, and similar agreements have been signed by other unions in home care and hospitals.

“It is concerning that CUPE accepted similar agreements in other sectors, yet long-term care workers remain on strike without having the opportunity to vote on the current offer,” Adams wrote. “As a result, these workers are being prevented from accessing higher wages, improved benefits and retroactive pay that others are already receiving.”

The letter closed with the following:

“The government remains prepared to continue the bargaining process in good faith. After substantially improving the offer earlier this month, the government firmly believes the next appropriate step is for the current offer to be put to a vote.”

Meanwhile, CUPE representatives say negotiations remain ongoing after talks earlier this month failed to produce a deal. The union has not said why they did not accept the province’s request to resume discussions.

Striking workers are planning to ramp up pressure on the government by moving picket lines to downtown Halifax on Monday. Workers from across the province are expected to gather on Argyle Street ahead of Premier Tim Houston’s state of the province address at noon.

The group plans to march from the Westin hotel to the Halifax Convention Centre, saying the move is intended to ensure the premier cannot ignore ongoing concerns about staffing, wages, and conditions in long-term care.

The union says they remain committed to securing a deal that addresses what they describe as long-standing issues in the sector.

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Staff, families share personal stories as long-term care crisis drags on amid strike

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Long-term care workers and families across Nova Scotia are now sharing personal stories from inside nursing homes as the strike continues, offering a closer look at the pressures they say are becoming too much to bear.

For weeks, staff have been advocating for themselves, standing in solidarity with CUPE locals from Yarmouth to Cape Breton for fair wages. Members say the exhaustion is becoming too much, and many feel left out to dry by government officials.

Many are sharing their own experiences on CUPE’s website, featuring stories about the long-term care crisis. Highlights include the meaning of their work as nurses, the mental toll it takes, and the daily struggles they face trying to pay bills on low wages while being chronically understaffed.

One story posted by Wilma F. from Inverness begins, “I have worked in LTC for 51 years and I have witnessed firsthand the lack of decent wages, respect, and fairness given to those workers.”

There are now more than 7,500 posts from members, families, and community members have been submitted to the site, according to CUPE.

CUPE says a recent public poll found that 91% of respondents agree that long-term care workers deserve a living wage, and 71% support the workers in the strike. They add only 22% believe the government’s offer is fair and Nova Scotia cannot afford to pay more than what was offered.

They say the growing number of stories highlights the urgent need for action to guarantee safe staffing levels and what they call a “true” living wage for all workers.

With more than 10,000 signatures on their petition and 8,500 emails sent to government officials, the union says there is still no word on when—or if—members will see a new offer.

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

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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.

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CUPE calls on all locals to put pressure on N.S. heading into week six of strike

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The union that represents long-term care workers is pushing for members from all sectors to put pressure on the province to come back to the table as the strike gets closer to week six.

About 3,000 workers from 34 nursing homes have been on the picket lines since April 13 fighting for higher wages.

Now, the president of CUPE wants to bring together 23,000 members from all professions to come up with a plan at a Town Hall slated for Monday.

In a letter to members, he says the struggle is historic for workers in Nova Scotia, and although they’ve received an outpouring of public support, it’s not enough.

In an interview with Acadia News, Alan Linkletter says the next step is to get more locals involved.

“Whether it be advocating for the striking workers, talking to members of the community and talking to MLAs in their areas,” says Linkletter.

CUPE and the province went back to the table a week ago, but after several hours of talking nothing came of it.

Seniors Minister Barb Adams has been saying for weeks that the deal they have offered is fair.

The Town Hall is Monday, May 18 at 7pm on Zoom.

-with files from Jacob Moore

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2 more long-term care homes set to join CUPE strike

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Two more long-term care homes in the province are expected to join the strike that is now in week five.

They are Inverary Manor in Inverness and Foyer Pere Fiset in Cheticamp. They are set to walk off the job, Thursday.

CUPE says it means roughly 3,300 members from 34 homes will be on the picket lines.

They have been fighting for higher wages with a second round of talks that failed between the union and the province last week.

CUPE says they went to the table hopeful but that hope, “quickly died”.

Meantime, Senior’s Minister Barb Adams says the deal proposed by the union was not feasible.

Workers walked off the job, April 13.

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‘I don’t want her to die alone’: Family fears grow as Norovirus outbreak closes care home

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Janet Flemming had planned to visit her 92-year-old mom at Ocean View Care Home on Mother’s Day, but instead, she received a call that left her feeling worried and disappointed.

“As of Wednesday, they’ve closed Ocean View completely,” says Flemming.

She explains that an outbreak of norovirus prompted the closure and that families were notified they were no longer allowed inside.

Since long-term care workers have been on strike, families across Nova Scotia have been concerned about whether their loved ones in care homes are receiving proper support. Now, with an outbreak like norovirus, Flemming says she worries that already strained staff won’t have the capacity to care for sick residents.

Flemming says she received notification on Friday that four additional units were being closed off as the virus spread.

“One of those units is where my mom is,” she says. “I got a call yesterday saying that at noon she started showing symptoms and that we’re unable to go check on her. And with their short staff, you know, that’s more work for them with everybody ill.”

Flemming says that since the CUPE long-term care strike began on April 13, she has seen staff take on roles outside their usual duties, often working extra to ensure residents are cared for. That’s because more than 3,000 workers across 30 facilities are now splitting their time between residents and picket lines.

“One of the ladies was saying she’s very tired because she’s only used to an eight-hour shift and just working in the kitchen, not serving. So, they’re not all doing their specific jobs,” she explains.

However, Flemming had hoped they would have the virus under control by now and worries the situation may be worsening.

“If my mom just got sick yesterday, there’s still people getting sick. They said the symptoms usually last for three days, so I don’t think they’re opening anytime soon.”

Flemming’s mom, Freda McCormick, has dementia, and given her age and now a virus, Flemming says she’s especially worried about not being able to visit—particularly on Mother’s Day weekend.

“It’s disappointing and it does concern me. If she gets worse, I don’t want her to die alone. [I’m afraid] we’ll just get a call. I don’t want that to happen, we would want to be there with her.”

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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.

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UPDATE: Talks stall less than 24 hours after long-term care workers return to table

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8:30 a.m. UPDATE: CUPE members and government officials agreed to resume negotiations late Thursday afternoon, but by early Friday morning, the union announced that no deal was reached.

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

The strike will continue with CUPE 3454 Shoreham Village joining the picket lines today
and 2 more set to join next week.

The provincial government has agreed to return to the bargaining table with CUPE, marking a key shift after four weeks of strike action by long-term care workers.

CUPE members announced the development yesterday afternoon following a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, who criticized the government’s handling of the dispute and said care workers deserve greater investment.

Workers say the move brings some relief, though many remain exhausted after weeks without a living wage and the ongoing strain of balancing care work with pressures at home and on their finances.

“We’re happy to hear that the government is willing to get back to the table,” said Long-Term and Community Care Committee Chair Christa Sweeney. “We look forward to negotiating in good faith and reaching a deal that everyone can support.”

MAY 7

Update: LTC workers and province will return to bargaining table as strike approaches one month

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UPDATE: After this story was first published, CUPE and the provincial government agreed to return to the bargaining table on Thursday afternoon. The comments in this story were made prior to that agreement being reached. The union says it’s hopeful renewed negotiations will lead to progress toward a deal.

Long-term care workers across Nova Scotia say they’re exhausted, cold, and soaked after nearly four weeks on rainy picket lines, with no clear end to the strike in sight.

Ty Loppie, CUPE Nova Scotia’s vice-president for the long-term care committee, says workers feel the seniors minister is not taking them seriously.

She says, “It’s very obvious that she doesn’t care about the workers, she doesn’t care about the seniors that are in long-term care, and she’s just been spreading a lot of misinformation.”

According to Loppie, Minister Barb Adams has been telling the public that workers don’t understand what’s in the deal being offered, but Loppie assures that everyone understood before taking action.

“They voted to go on strike because they didn’t like the deal. She [Adams] has gone out of her way to post the deal package in the workplaces and she’s still saying that the members don’t know what was in the package,” she explains, frustrated. “It’s so baffling, the disrespect that we’re experiencing. You would think as the minister of seniors and long-term care would care, but she’s ignoring us.”

‘What’s being offered is simply offensive and insulting’

Krista Sweeney, chair of the long-term care committee, says the strike isn’t about money, but about the toll chronic understaffing and low pay are taking on workers’ lives.

Sweeney says workers “spend their days caring for families and then go home worrying about how to care for their own. Starving and exhausted people cannot provide top-notch care, no matter how much they want to. That’s the heart of this issue.”

In a statement to our newsroom on Wednesday, Minister Adams made it clear she does not plan to return to the bargaining table any time soon.

‘We are here because this government refuses to sit down and make an agreement with long-term care workers’, says NDP

Meanwhile, Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender hosted CUPE representatives at Province House Thursday morning where she criticized the provincial government’s handling of the dispute and its broader approach to long-term care.

Chender states, “Tim Houston has spent billions of dollars on Healthcare infrastructure, but he and Barb Adams don’t seem to think that the people providing that care are worth the investment.”

She added that many Nova Scotian’s initially trusted the government’s promise to fix health care, but that conditions have only continued to deteriorate.

“They’ve given the Houston government the benefit of the doubt and trusted that their promise to fix healthcare was moving forward, but five years in and long-term care workers face constant staffing shortages that impact the care.”

As of now, there is still no timeline from the province on when the strike could come to an end, leaving thousands of workers on the picket lines and long-term care facilities operating under continued strain.

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2 more N.S. long term care homes to join strike

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Two more long term care homes are set to join the 3,000 CUPE members who are now in week four of strike action.

In a news release, Tuesday afternoon, CUPE says staff from Melville Lodge in Halifax and Shoreham Village in Chester will join picketers Thursday and Friday as workers fight for higher wages.

“This government clearly thinks that ignoring us will force us to give up and go back to work,” says Long Term and Community Care Committee Chair Christa Sweeney.

But, she says, the opposite is true.

“We’re not backing down until the government comes back to the table to negotiate a deal that works for everyone.”

A third home may also join, which will bring the total facilities to 33.

Inverary Manor in Inverness says it’s possible their workers will go on strike, May 14. They hosted an information session for families, Tuesday afternoon.

Union members on the picket lines have expressed feelings of exhaustion as the weeks go by.

Seniors Minister Barb Adams has said the deal presented is fair. We have reached out to her office for further comment.

The strike began April 13.

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