Richmond Villa Workers Vote to Strike

Cape Breton, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long term care workers from Richmond Villa, represented by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 1782, have voted 98% in favour of a strike mandate. CUPE 1782, alongside the other CUPE nursing home locals participating in coordinated bargaining this year, are fighting for improvements to wages, and recruitment and retention initiatives.

“This fight for better wages and working conditions has been a long time coming,” said CUPE 1782 President Krista Mombourquette. “Our wages have stagnated because of the expired collective agreement, and the constant cost of living increases over the past few years have made stretching every dollar even harder. Add the stress of working short-staffed because of retention issues and is it any wonder 98% of our members voted to strike if a fair deal can’t be reached?”

Long term care workers in Nova Scotia are the lowest paid in Atlantic Canada, with most support services classifications making less than $20 an hour. The Nova Scotia Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives estimated that the living wage in the province ranges from $24-$29 an hour, at a minimum.

“I don’t know about you, but I want the people responsible for taking care of my parents to make more than the basic cost of living. Why? Because they’re the people who make our family members feel at home when they can no longer be there and to me, that’s worth more than I can say,” said CUPE Long Term Care Coordinator Tammy Martin.

Bargaining between CUPE and the Houston government broke off this week. CUPE is in the process of filing for conciliation.

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