Striking CUPE workers block access to Cape Breton health-care complex

CUPE’s long-term care workers protested a new health-care centre in Cape Breton.

Striking long-term care workers in Cape Breton blocked access to a health-care complex under construction on Thursday.

About two dozen people gathered outside the Northside Health Complex, which is being built in the Northside Industrial Park.

The health centre is set to replace Northside General Hospital in North Sydney, N.S., and will feature a new long-term care home.

“We just did a work stoppage here to try and get some attention to our cause,” said Wanda Bond, president of CUPE Local 1876.

Those on the picket line said the construction workers building the new facility have expressed solidarity with them and they won’t cross the picket line.

Those on strike also said they were blocking access to the site to express their frustration how long the job action has been going on.

Their hope is that stopping work at a provincial government-led project - even for a day - might send a message.

“We are under an Essential Service Agreement, which is quite brutal,” Bond said. “The scheduling is terrible. People are going in there 14, 18, 21 days straight – plus on the picket line.”

At another picket line just down the highway in Sydney River, striking workers from Harbourstone Enhanced Care said they, too, are frustrated that the strike is in its eighth week.

“It’s dragged on far too long,” said Gordie Ferguson, president of CUPE Local 1183. “I think it’s time to get both sides back to the table and stay there until they can work out a deal.”

The Sydney River strikers were also applauding their counterparts in North Sydney for trying something different.

“Something needs to be done,” Ferguson said. “I mean, obviously all the complaints from residents and families of residents as well as the CUPE members doesn’t seem to be ringing a tone with anyone.”

Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care Barbara Adams said it’s time for CUPE to take the latest offer to its members - one that she says government has presented twice, in addition to what was already on the table.

“There are nearly 28,000 health professionals in acute care, home care and in long-term care who have already accepted the offer,” Adams said. “And sadly, we know that some are leaving one long-term care facility to go across the street. They’re voting with their feet.”

Thursday afternoon, CUPE paused their strike at an Urgent Treatment Centre in Arichat, N.S.

In a news release, the union said it is the only medical treatment centre near the community and after eight weeks it has become clear it is needed.

Outside the new health complex build in North Sydney, picketers said that demonstration was for one day only.

“I think if we picketed here more than twice, we would get an injunction, so we certainly won’t be coming back to this site,” Bond said.

Thousands of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members have been on strike in Nova Scotia since April 13.

The union has said its major focus is improved wages for workers.

CUPE and the province returned to the bargaining table last week, but talks broke off again. No new meetings are currently scheduled.

If not resolved, the labour dispute will reach the two-month mark on June 13.

The union represents workers at 52 long-term care homes in the province.

There are currently 36 facilities on strike:

• Melville Lodge in Halifax
• Admiral and White Hills Long Term Care Centres in Halifax
• Maplestone Enhanced Care in Halifax
• St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Halifax
• Shoreham Village in Chester
• Grand View Manor in Berwick
• Alderwood Rest Home in Baddeck
• Magnolia Continuing Care Centre in Enfield
• Richmond Villa in St. Peter’s
• Lunenburg Home for Special Care in Lunenburg
• Northside Community Guest Home in North Sydney
• Harbourstone Enhanced Care in Sydney River
• Shiretown Nursing Home in Pictou
• Ivey’s Terrace Nursing Home in Trenton
• Bayside Home in Barrington
• Maple Hill Manor in New Waterford
• Seaview Manor in Glace Bay
• Maritime Odd Fellows in Pictou
• Valley View Manor in Stellarton
• Ocean View Continuing Care in Eastern Passage
• Bisset Court in Cole Harbour
• Glasgow Hall in Dartmouth
• Queen’s Manor in Liverpool
• Villa St. Joseph-du-Lac in Dayton
• Roseway Manor in Shelburne
• Celtic Court in Membertou
• The Birches in Musquodoboit Harbour
• Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home in Port Hawkesbury
• St. Anne Nursing Care Centre in Arichat
• Ryan Hall in Bridgewater
• Surf Lodge in Lockeport
• The Meadows in Yarmouth
• Ivy Meadows in Beaver Bank
• Inverary Manor in Inverness
• Foyer Père Fiset in Chéticamp
• Glen Haven Manor in New Glasgow

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