Baddeck Home Support Workers vote 100% in favour of a strike

VICTORIA COUNTY, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Late last week, home support workers at Victoria County Home Support (VCHSS) voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate, citing no guaranteed hours, unfair wages, workplace safety, and wear and tear on personal vehicles as their main issues.

“After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we’re tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,” said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, the local union that represents the workers of VCHSS.

Like many other home support Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), home support workers at VCHSS do not have guaranteed hours of work. This means that their hours fluctuate week to week and are subject to change based on the client’s needs. Yet, despite this instability, all home support workers are expected to own their own reliable vehicle with insurance and a Nova Scotian registration.

“We had one new hire in 2024. The only new hire that stayed before that was in 2018,” said Lewis-Pierrard. “When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn’t sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that’s not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages.”

“It’s impossible for CCAs in this sector to make any long term plans,” said CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator Kathy MacLeod. “Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn’t happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day.”

Another issue remaining on the table is improved workplace safety language. Home support workers are expected to enter client homes unaccompanied to provide care, often in remote areas without cell service or reception. The local is fighting for a more clear and effective process for when incidents arise and better protections for the CCAs working in the field.

“None of us want to strike, but we are all prepared to if that’s what it takes for our issues to be addressed. We believe in the value of home support to the health care system; we know how important it is to help people stay in their homes longer. We deserve fair pay; we deserve a safe working environment; and we deserve stable working hours,” finished Lewis-Pierrard.

CUPE 4354 is the third CUPE Home Support local to take a positive strike vote.

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