Nova Scotia LTC Workers Ramp Up Fight For New Deal

Nova Scotia’s long-term care workers are currently working out of contract and they are asking for major improvements to their next one.

On Tuesday, November 30, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members that work in the long-term care sector intend to hold a Day of Action.

Members of the union will host rallies at 21 locations around the province starting at 11:00 a.m.. Venues include long-term care homes, politician offices, and other public spaces.

The union would also like the public to contact their MLAs, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care Barbara Adams, and Premier Tim Houston, and ask them to increase staffing levels and wages immediately.

“Workers are constantly burning out and when that happens it’s not just them that suffers but also the patients,” said Louise Riley, chair of CUPE’s Long-Term Care and Community Services Coordinating Committee.

Riley says they have not been able to set up dates with the provincial government to negotiate a new deal and they hope the Day of Action will speed up the process.

One of the key things they want to be included in their new deal is an increase in patient care hours. Currently, each resident of long-term care homes is mandated to receive 2.45 direct care hours, the union is calling for an increase to 4.1 direct care hours.

The mandate for 2.45 direct care hours was adopted in 1995 and has not been updated since.

The other major item on the union’s wishlist is a substantial increase in remuneration. ” We don’t want a living wage, as it is only between $19 and $20, we’re looking for a substantial increase in wages,” Riley said.

Despite these major issues Riley made it clear that their issues are not with their employers or the homes they work in but rather with the provincial government who regulate the industry.

Below is a list of the locations where Day of Action demonstrations are planned;