Hundreds of long-term care workers are back on the picket lines, despite a tentative agreement reached with the province, according to the union.
It was June 6 when the lead negotiating table at St. Vincent’s Nursing home landed a deal with Nova Scotia, after an eight-week long strike involving 36 homes and 3,600 members fighting for higher wages.
Members went back to work while the voting continued with other locals. The vote at St. Vincent’s was ratified June 11.
In a news release Thursday, CUPE says Admiral and White Hills Long Term Care Centres as well as Bay Side Homes, have forced workers back on strike over “remaining local issues”. Something the union thought would be resolved quickly.
“It’s disappointing,” admits coordinator Kim Cail. “After eight weeks on the picket line and provincial negotiations settling the wages, you’d think employers would be motivated to conclude bargaining at individual local tables.”
“But these employers are unwilling to bend on anything.”
The union says the owners of the homes, GEM Health Care Group Ltd. and Bayside Home Corporation, “refuse” to settle issues such as standby pay and mandated time off.
These things would stop unpaid work in the home and make sure there are a certain number of hours off between shifts.
Cail says residents are still being care for under the essential services agreements but at this point, could be back to normal staffing levels.
“Instead, these employers are refusing to pay workers who are required to be on call after their shifts to handle any issues that arise or ensure workers have a minimum number of hours off between shifts,” says Cail.
“Seems ridiculous to me.”
According to Premier Tim Houston, about ten homes have accepted the deal.
