The chair of a national health advocacy group says they are deeply troubled by the conduct of the Houston government as thousands of long-term care workers remain on the picket lines.
Roughly 3,600 CUPE members walked off the job April 13 to fight for higher wages.
With the strike heading into week nine, Jason MacLean with the Canadian Health Coalition has written a letter to Christa Sweeney, the chair of the Long Term and Community Care Committee with CUPE to express “unwavering solidarity”.
“Your members’ courage and determination in fighting for a living wage is not only a matter of fairness for workers – it is a matter of dignity and quality of care for the thousands of Nova Scotians who depend on your services,” says MacLean.
MacLean adds that the health coalition has always “championed” that a strong, publicly funded and delivered health care system depends on workforce that is “respected, fairly compensated and supported”.
“Your strike speaks to that principle directly.”
According to MacLean, Nova Scotians deserves a government that bargains “honesty and transparently”.
“Not one that makes promises about “fixing healthcare” while stonewalling the workers who deliver that care every single day,” expresses MacLean.
He calls on the province to return to the table with “genuine intent”.
Back to table more than once
Since the strike began, the two sides have gone back to the table twice, but no deal was reached.
However, Seniors Minister Barb Adams alongside Premier Tim Houston say the deal offered is fair and encourage CUPE to allow their members to vote on the contract presented.
CUPE says they are not obligated to take the deal to their members if they do not think it is good enough. Lead negotiator Kim Cail tells us, an offer is only taken to members if the elected bargaining committee recommends that it be accepted.
“We have not received anything the bargaining committee is willing to accept, let alone take it for a vote.”
