(Sydney) – Home support workers in New Waterford have voted 98% in favour of strike if they don’t get a fair contract this year.
The 100 employees of New Waterford Home Care - full-time and part-time home support workers – are members of CUPE Local 3986.
CUPE National Representative and Home Care Co-ordinator Jacquie Bramwell says the issues in dispute are hours of work and wages.
Says Bramwell, “Because of the way they are scheduled for work, it can take an employee 16 hours of a day to receive seven hours pay.
“While we have had a good round of bargaining with this employer, it’s become clear that 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.
“These workers are certified Continuing Care Assistants (CCA’s) but they are not receiving compensation that’s commensurate with their training,” says Bramwell.
Bramwell says CUPE represents home support workers in several agencies across the province. She anticipates there will be strike mandates from every one of these groups in this round of bargaining.
For information:
| Roberta Hickman President, CUPE Local 3986 (902) 849-3301 (h) | Jacquie Bramwell CUPE National Rep. (902) 539-4933 (o) | John McCracken CUPE Communications Rep. (902) 455-4180 (o) |