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Striking home support workers in Queens County, Nova Scotia were thrilled when more than 200 trade unionists from other unions joined them at the provincial legislature.

The small group of CUPE members was applauded by members of the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU) and the Nova Scotia Union of Public Employees (NSUPE) as they approached the legislature steps. NSGEU, which also represents home care workers, presented the striking workers with a generous donation raised from the floor of their convention.

As the lowest paid home support workers in the province, the 39 members of CUPE Local 3885 are pressuring the government for wage parity across the board, as was achieved for nursing home and hospital workers over the past couple of years. Wages for home support workers currently range from $7.14 to $12 per hour.

The members were introduced in the legislature by the NDP opposition leader Darell Dexter who proceeded to grill the minister of health over his lack of concern for home support employees.

A victory for this small group of determined members will pave the way for wage parity for all home support workers in the province.