Negotiations with N.S. government over long-term care strike have broken off: CUPE

CUPE and the Nova Scotia government are resuming negotiations amid the long-term care workers strike.

The union representing thousands of long-term care workers in Nova Scotia says negotiations with the provincial government have broken off again, which means a month-long strike will continue.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the government agreed to return to the bargaining table for the second time since the strike began on April 13, but the union says the province offered a “recycled version” of the same deal they’ve presented 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 Christa Sweenet, long term and community care committee chair, in a news release. “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.”

CUPE represents 52 long-term care facilities in the province. Currently 36 sites are on strike, which means roughly 3,600 workers are on the picket line.

Glen Haven Manor in New Glasgow, which has 200 resident beds, was the latest home to go on strike, hitting the picket line on Wednesday.

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

The government says it has offered the following:

• wage increases between 12 and 24 per cent over four years, retroactive pay to 2023
• increased evening and weekend premiums and access to a defined benefit pension
• an additional $2 per hour beginning in 2027 for those earning less than $23 an hour
• an additional 1.5 per cent increase for all workers next year.

Earlier this month, both sides agreed to resume talks, but they soon broke off.

Negotiations were led by chief conciliation and mediation officer Peter Lloyd. There are currently no further scheduled bargaining meetings.

The full list of the 36 long-term care homes on strike includes:

• 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

With files from The Canadian Press

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page