Long-term care workers represented by CUPE and government representatives bargained early into the morning today, however no deal was reached.
“It’s disappointing. We went to the table, presenting two counter offers with different wages that would bring our lowest-paid workers closer to a living wage, but were met with little movement,” said CUPE long-term care coordinator Kim Cail. “The new offer, which expires in 2028, was better than the last, but would still leave support classifications at just over $23 by the end. That’s not a living wage now and it certainly won’t be in 2028.”
“I was hopeful when the government agreed to come back to the table,” admitted CUPE long-term and community care committee Chair Christa Sweeney, “but after hours of bargaining and little movement, that hope died. These workers deserve a living wage, pure and simple, and that shouldn’t be so hard for this government to understand.”
“If this round of bargaining has shown anything, it’s that despite our members saying over and over that they want and deserve more, the government isn’t willing to listen,” said Cail. “They refuse to believe the workers speaking for themselves and instead continue to spread their own version of events.”
The strike will continue with Shoreham Village joining the picket lines today and two more set to join next week.
