Long term care workers in seventh week of strike headed back to bargaining table

HALIFAX, NS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long term care workers are set to return to the table later today with representatives of the employers and government, and the assistance of the Chief Conciliation Officer.

“We agreed to go back to the table in the hopes that, this time, the government will come with an offer that brings all long term care workers closer to a living wage instead of the same tired deal they’ve been presenting over and over, both at the table and in the media,” said Long Term and Community Care Committee Chair Christa Sweeney.

“Though the government had a whole host of stipulations for returning to the table, we remain firm that we will not present an offer to the membership that we don’t have full confidence in,” said Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Long Term Care Coordinator Kim Cail, “which means the only vote we will have is a ratification vote after reaching a tentative agreement. That is the standard process and what was agreed to in our Lead Table Protocol, as the government is well aware, and that’s what we will do.”

:so/cope491