After returning to the table for the second time since this strike began, negotiations have broken off. After CUPE presented an amended offer, lowering the previous proposal by millions of dollars, representatives of the government and employer once again presented a recycled version of the same deal they’ve been tabling since last August.
“The message that government is sending us, sending the thousands of striking workers we represent, sending every single working family in Nova Scotia, is that they don’t think we deserve to earn enough money to live on,” said Long Term and Community Care Committee Chair Christa Sweeney. “Every time we come to the table, we’ve lowered our proposal to the tune of millions of dollars, yet the government comes with pennies in comparison.”
The singular change from the government’s offer, previously tabled and rejected on May 7, was the addition of an amended version of a previous union proposal around CCAs mentoring students.
“We’re bargaining with ourselves at this point,” commented Long Term Care Coordinator Kim Cail. “We meet, we move, the government tables the same offer again and again. And let me tell you: the same offer gets the same response: no. It’s not good enough for these essential workers and the government knows it.”
“We’ve asked before and we’re renewing that ask: we need an outside mediator. We need someone who will push both sides and who will push negotiations forward,” finished Cail.
Negotiations were supported by Chief Conciliation and Mediation Officer for the province Peter Lloyd, who pulled the plug on today’s negotiations.
There are currently no further dates scheduled. The strike will continue, with another home set to hit the picket lines tomorrow morning.
