Long-term care minister makes direct appeal to nursing homes amid contract dispute
CBC
Nova Scotia’s seniors and long-term care minister is calling on administrators at nursing homes to make direct appeals to their employees amidst protracted contract talks with the union representing workers at more than 50 sites.
In a letter dated March 13, obtained by CBC News, Barbara Adams writes that she’s reaching out due to her concern regarding contract negotiations with workers represented by CUPE Nova Scotia.
“It is concerning that CUPE leadership has rejected outright the same offer accepted by 23 non-CUPE groups, without allowing their members the opportunity to vote on the offer,” Adams writes, before going on to outline details about the offer to the union.
“The offer ensures fairness and consistency across the health system. CUPE-represented employees are not being singled out or treated differently. However, the continued delay means many employees remain earning outdated wages.”
Impacted workers include continuing care assistants; licensed practical nurses; support services, which includes environmental, housekeeping and laundry; occupational therapy aids and physiotherapy aids; and maintenance.
They’ve been without a contract since October 2023.
Tammy Martin, CUPE’s long-term care coordinator for Nova Scotia, said Adams is interfering with collective bargaining and “trying to strong arm” the union into accepting a deal they’ve already decided to reject.
Martin said there are workers covered by negotiations who make $18.77 an hour and the offer on the table would bring them just above $21 an hour by the end of the proposed contract. In some cases, workers make $9 an hour less than their counterparts in the rest of Atlantic Canada, she said.
“They work in long-term care because they’re committed to the folks that they work with everyday, the residents that they help,” said Martin.
“They can’t afford anything extra.”
Adams was not made available for an interview.
A statement from the government said other provinces have negotiated new agreements since the expiry of CUPE’s contract here. It goes on to note that the proposed offer, which is retroactive, includes a 70 per cent increase in shift and weekend premiums — from $2.35 an hour to $4.
The deal would expire next year and then be up for renegotiation.
A final day for conciliation is scheduled for March 24. If a deal is not reached, the union would be in a legal strike position 48 hours later.
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