-by April MacDonald
It has been a long, cold, and hard-fought battle between the Nova Scotia government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Nova Scotia.
A tentative agreement was finally reached on Sunday, June 7th pause-lining an eight-week strike involving roughly 3,600 long-term care workers across 36 provincial care facilities.
The job action began on April 13th, and involved vital personnel including continuing care assistants, nurses, housekeeping staff, and multiple therapy specialists.
On the sixth of June, CUPE provided this bargaining update to the public:
“Your lead table bargaining committee has reached a tentative agreement. At this point, all picket lines will stand down, and members will return to work as early as Monday morning.
If the tentative agreement is not ratified, the strike will resume.
After nearly 12 hours of intense negotiations, supported by our CUPE staff team and National President Mark Hancock and National Secretary Treasurer Candace Rennick, we reached an agreement between CUPE 1082 and St. Vincent’s Nursing Home.”
Saint Vincent’s Nursing Home is a 149-bed, accredited, not-for-profit long-term care facility located in the Halifax peninsula.
“It took months of negotiations, eight weeks on the picket line, countless hours spent fighting for what we know we all deserve, but we have gotten a deal that we unanimously recommend to our members.”
What’s next?
“According to the provincial Lead Table Protocol, the tentative agreement must first be ratified by the Lead Table Local within 10 days. We are aiming to complete this within 72 hours.
Details of the tentative agreement cannot be shared with other locals until this process is completed.
If ratified by Local 1082, details of the tentative agreement will then be presented and voted on by all locals that have completed local bargaining.”
They ask that you please keep an eye on your email for details about the ratification process.
“We would all like to warmly thank each and every member for your trust, your support, and your solidarity. Together we fight, together we win!”
This was submitted by the Lead Table Bargaining Team, Christa Sweeney, chair of Long Term and Community Care Committee, our local representative Ashton Brown, representing Cape Breton from Local 1485, Laura Stewart, representing Central from Local 4919, Greg Williams, representing Western from Local 5248, Janet Macdonald, president of Lead Table Local, CUPE 1082, Edwina Donovan, CUPE 1082, Dale Henneberry, CUPE 1082.
As CUPE Local 1485 had entered their fourth week on strike, they wanted to extend their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has stood with them.
“The support from our community, neighbouring communities and businesses has been incredible. From donations of food, water, supplies, gift cards, monetary, porta- pottie and other essentials, to coffee, homemade treats, meals, encouraging words, waves, and honks, every act of kindness has helped lift our spirits and keep us going.
While we cannot thank everyone individually, please know that every gesture has been noticed and deeply appreciated. Your generosity and solidarity have reminded us that we are not alone.
Thank you for supporting long-term care workers as we continue to fight for fair wages, respect, and recognition. Your kindness has carried us through these past four weeks, and we are truly grateful. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
In solidarity, CUPE Local 1485, Inverary Manor Workers.
Following unanimous endorsement from the union’s negotiating team, all picket lines stood down to allow staff to start returning to work as early as Monday morning, June 8th.
Contract discussions had been stagnant since agreements expired in October 2023, primarily stalling over wages, employee benefits, and workplace adjustments. Prior to the deal, the province’s public offer included a 12 per cent to 24 per cent wage increase over four years, enhanced shift premiums, and funding for defined benefit pension plans.
CUPE initially noted this fell short of Nova Scotia’s actual living wage.
Exact contract terms are being withheld from the public until union members review the details.
As mentioned previously the lead bargaining unit — CUPE Local 1082 representing employees at St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Halifax — is scheduled to vote first. If they vote to accept, the agreement will then go out to all remaining locals across the province.