NS home support workers push back sector-wide privatization

John McCraken | CUPE Communications

CUPE home support workers from across Nova Scotia are cautiously optimistic that a threat of sectorwide privatization has been pushed back, now that Stephen McNeil’s Liberal government has backed off plans to put agency contracts out to private tender.

CUPE Home Support Coordinator Marianne Welsh said, “We are pleased that Health Minister Leo Glavine has backed away, at least for now, on plans to put home care contracts out to private tender. We’re also happy that there’s been no further discussion about the introduction of a lower-paid Home Care Aide classification.”

Home support workers from several unions came together with the Nova Scotia Citizens Health Network and other community allies to fight for local jobs and local service providers in our communities. Recent remarks from Minister Glavine that the new deals signed with home support providers in the coming months will include what he called ‘performanceexpectations’ is something CUPE is watching closely.

CUPE represents Home Support Workers at Region of Queens Home Support, Lunenburg County Home Support Services Society, Victorian Order of Nurses – Cumberland County, New Waterford Homemaker Service Society, and Victoria County Home Support Workers.