Long-term care workers in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, from Seaview Manor Home for Special Care, represented by CUPE 2094, voted 96% in favour of a strike mandate last week, joining the 18 other CUPE long-term care locals who’ve taken similar strike votes in the past month.
“We’re frustrated with this round of bargaining,” admitted CUPE 2094 President Allen Keeping. “We all heard Houston’s promises on the campaign trail, how he swore to fix health care and make life better for Nova Scotians, and yet his government offered us next to nothing. It’s like they think senior care doesn’t matter, that we don’t matter.”
The union filed for conciliation at the end of November after bargaining talks with representatives of the Houston government stalled.
“These workers care for our elderly. They give them a home when they can no longer stay in their own, a friend when they need someone to talk to, family when life gets a little too busy and visits grow infrequent. They are vital to our health care system, to our province, yet this government offered them little,” said CUPE Long-Term Care Coordinator Tammy Martin. “The message is clear: Houston doesn’t care about senior care.”
CUPE long term care workers in the Sydney area will be gathering outside the Mayflower Mall on December 5th from 2 PM to 4 PM for an information picket to raise further awareness about their bargaining issues.