CITYnews halifax : Lead table ratifies tentative agreement for long term care workers, union says

CITYnews halifax / By Chris Halef

The union representing long-term care workers in Nova Scotia says its lead table has ratified a tentative agreement.

St. Vincent’s Nursing Home, which is represented by CUPE 1082, has ratified the agreement as of Wednesday night, according to a release.

According to the union, CUPE 1082 acts as the lead table for long-term care sector bargaining, adding that it is their responsibility to negotiate terms that impact the other bargaining tables.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work the lead table bargaining team did,” Christa Sweeney, Long Term and Community Care Committee Chair, said. “It was a long, tiring process, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the tremendous support and solidarity shown by long-term care workers province-wide.”

CUPE said it was successful in fighting for a minimum $5 raise for all workers over the life of the collective agreement, as well as additional wages for supervising and training students, and improved layoff protections.

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• Families plugging gaps as renewed talks fail to end Nova Scotia long-term care strike

The union said the tentative agreement will now be presented to members across the province for a vote, adding that if they accept the deal, it will bring the province-wide strike to an end.

Long term care workers in the province have been on strike since April 13.