Families of long-term care residents were hopeful Wednesday that a deal could be reached as the union representing Nova Scotian long-term care workers met with government officials after more than six weeks on strike.
Jamie Whitty said his support for the union is wearing thin as reduced worker hours impact the care his father is receiving at a long-term care facility in the Cape Breton community of Port Hawkesbury.
He says when the strike began, baths became less frequent, though they have increased over the last two weeks.
He said meals are being served on paper plates because there’s not enough staff to wash dishes, and there’s too few support staff to bring dementia patients like his father to recreational events such as concerts.
“The reality of it is the union is losing support,” said Whitty, whose father entered care about a year ago.
“Management, ownership are doing everything they can. The thin staff that they have are doing what they can, but it’s obviously trying to use seniors as a leverage to push for a living wage. Not my ideal strategy.”
Unionized workers at long-term care homes across the province have been on strike since April 13. As of Wednesday, that included 36 homes, representing about 3,600 members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Wages are the main issue.
The government and the union say essential services are being maintained, but many physiotherapists, occupational therapists and recreational therapists are working reduced hours. Nurses, continuing-care assistants and housekeeping staff are also part of the strike.
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On Wednesday, CUPE said its negotiators were set to meet with officials from the government and the privately operated care homes, which the government funds. For the first time, the province’s chief conciliation officer will be at the table.
“We have a new proposal to give them today,” Kim Cail, CUPE’s long-term care co-ordinator, said before talks resumed, declining to reveal details. “We costed it out. (The offer is) less than what the employer initially offered, but it’s better because we played with the numbers.”
The government’s latest public offer includes wage increases between 12 and 24 per cent over four years; retroactive pay to 2023; increased evening and weekend premiums; access to a defined benefit pension; an additional $2 per hour beginning in 2027 for those earning less than $23 an hour; and an additional 1.5 per cent increase for all workers next year.
Seniors and Long-term Care Minister Barbara Adams, whose department did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday, has said previously that the extra money for the lowest-paid workers was a direct response to concerns raised by front-line employees.
The union has said the $2 raise would bring the lowest-paid workers up to $23.57 an hour by the end of the proposed agreement, which it said is below the living wage in the province.
“Our whole goal through the negotiation process, the strike and everything, is to try to get every one of these members closer to a living wage, especially our support staff people,” said Cail.
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John Ouellette, whose mother is a resident of the St. Anne Community and Nursing Care Centre in Arichat, about 30 kilometres southeast of Port Hawkesbury, says he and his mom support the striking workers and believe all sides have the best interests of patients at heart.
But he expressed frustration over bickering in recent weeks between CUPE and the government, which each accuse the other side of holding up negotiations and whether or not offers should be put to a vote by workers.
“None of those things can be resolved by shouting at each other through the media, they get resolved through the negotiating table,” Ouellette said. “I’m happy to hear that they’re back at the table to do that, and hopeful that something, a deal, comes out of it.”
Ouellette says his mother was getting a shower about once a week before the strike began, and that dropped off in the early days of the labour action. He says bathing has become more frequent in recent weeks, but the strike has been stressful.
“A lot of it has to do with the (lack of) recreational activities and things that make the days go by well,” he said.
“She’s close to all of her care workers. She really feels for the situation that they’re in and wants the situation to be resolved.”
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