21 long-term care homes in Nova Scotia to go on strike on Monday: CUPE

Twenty-one long-term care facilities in Nova Scotia are set to go on strike this Monday, according to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

Taylor Johnston with CUPE confirmed hundreds of long-term care workers will go on strike at 7 a.m. Monday with more facilities expected to follow suit in the coming days. She said the union plans to submit its 48-hour strike notice on Friday.

During the strike, Johnston said care facilities will be reduced to essential services, which will vary depending on the site.

In the past few months, more than 40 long-term care facilities across Nova Scotia have approved strike mandates. CUPE represents members at 52 sites in the province.

CUPE and the province, which have been engaged in negotiations for months, had their final scheduled conciliation meeting in late March, but the union says they did not reach a deal.

CUPE, which has previously claimed Nova Scotia long-term care workers are the lowest paid in Atlantic Canada, has said one of its major issues in negotiations are wages.

CUPE will hold rallies for long-term care workers in Halifax, New Glasgow, Yarmouth and Port Hastings at 11 a.m. on Friday.

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