LIVERPOOL, N.S. – Home support workers in Queen’s County have voted 96% in favour of strike if they don’t get a fair contract this year.
The 35 employees are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3885. They voted last night in Liverpool.
CUPE National Representative Larry Power says the main issues in dispute are hours of work, wages and benefits.
Says Power, “There is a basic inequity facing these workers that must be addressed. Because of the way they are scheduled for work, it can take an employee 16 hours of a day to receive seven hours pay.
“This is a funding issue from the provincial government. Home support agencies are not receiving adequate funding to tackle the issues of wages and hours of work.
CUPE represents home support workers in several agencies across the province. Three of the groups have already received strong strike mandates from their members.
For information:
Larry Power
CUPE national representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)
(902) 209-4143 (cell)
John McCracken
CUPE communications representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)
(902) 222-8457 (cell)