Employees at Resi-Care Cape Breton Vote 100% in Favour of Job Action

SYDNEY, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Employees who work for Resi-Care in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality are united in their fight for fair wages and benefits after voting 100 percent in favour of possible strike action on December 20, 2023. The approximately 114 employees are Residential Rehabilitation Workers who care for people with intellectual disabilities living in small options and group homes. They are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 3008.

Bargaining broke down on December 15^th, says CUPE National Representative Tammy Martin, and the union has filed for Conciliation. “Local issues still on the table include improvements to sick and bereavement leave and for casual workers,” says Martin. In addition, the employees are asking to be paid appropriately for the time they spend taking residents to appointments in Halifax. “They may be gone for 36 hours and only be paid for 12,” she says. “That’s outrageous. Where else would an employer demand that kind of unpaid labour?”

Judy Musycsyn, president of CUPE Local 3008, says employees haven’t seen a wage increase in almost three years and are frustrated with how long it’s taking for government to deliver a wage package. “Why are we paid less than continuing care assistants when we have a wider scope of responsibilities?” she asks. “We order and administer medication, prepare and implement individual program plans, book and attend doctor’s appointments, and provide counselling. We deserve more than $20.33 an hour.”

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