Amherst Long Term Care Home Votes to Strike

AMHERST, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Workers from Northumberland Hall long term care home, represented by CUPE 5018, voted 94% in favour of a strike mandate late last week, bringing the total number of CUPE long term care homes voting to strike to 30.

“This is not how we wanted to start 2026,” said CUPE 5018 President Barb Jenkins. “I think we all hoped that, by now, the government would have made an offer that recognized the vital work we do and our role in the health care system more broadly, but that’s simply not the case. It’s disappointing, but, if that’s the way it’s going to be, me and my fellow workers are prepared to fight for what we deserve.”

CUPE 5018 joins the other long term care workers in fighting for better wages and improved recruitment and retention, while also bargaining for more local specific contract changes to bring their collective agreement in line with other Shannex-operated long term care homes in the province.

In the last quarter of 2025, CUPE represented long term care homes began taking strike votes as bargaining with the provincial government had stalled following a subpar wage offer. These workers have banded together as a sector to fight for wage increases that recognize the increased cost-of-living, with an extra focus on classifications such as support services, that were left out of previous health care adjustments provided by the government outside bargaining.

“Everyone keeps asking me if it’s all about the money, if that’s the only thing we care about, but the reality is the government’s refusal to invest in the workers who keep long term care running is the reason the sector is struggling,” explained CUPE Long Term Care Coordinator Tammy Martin. “Adding beds and building new homes won’t help if there is no one left to provide care. Offering Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs) free tuition won’t help if they use that certification to work in any of the other sectors or provinces that pay better. The solution is simple: pay the workers what they’re worth. Start there.”

CUPE long term care and the government will return to the table at the end of January for conciliation.

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