Talks between striking long-term care workers and province break down

The ongoing long-term care strike in Nova Scotia is no closer to ending after negotiations break off.

Hope quickly died yesterday when talks between the union representing 3,600 striking long-term care workers and the province broke off almost as soon as they started.

“We convened at, I’m going to say, 1:30 and we were done by 5,” says CUPE’s long-term care coordinator Kim Cail.

She says both sides tabled proposals. The province’s, however, was the same as one previously offered with one minor adjustment, but that wasn’t enough for the workers.

“Houston’s got his feet dug in and he’s waiting to starve our members out and unfortunately, it looks like it may end up being a longer strike than what any of us ever thought,” Cail says.

The union wants $5 an hour raises for every member.

Jamie Whitty wants this whole thing settled so his father, John, can get more attention.

He says overall care has been lacking at the Port Hawkesbury nursing home and that is having a growing impact on residents.

“There is a significant decline in the overall quality of care,” Whitty says. “We just don’t get the support in the terms of the cleanliness of his room. Obviously, he has no social activity anymore. He used to really enjoy going to the concerts.”

CTV News reached out to Minister Barbara Adams’ office for comment but didn’t hear back by deadline.

They’ve consistently pushed CUPE to bring their offer to the membership for a vote.

Kim Cail admits some do want the union to accept what’s on the table.

“There are a few members out there, of course there are, right? There are a couple of classifications, very a few members fit into those classifications.”

Cail maintains the membership has voted on the offer, pointing to the fact they are on the picket line which grew by one today with MacGillivray house in Sydney joining the strike.

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