Nova Scotia care workers rally as strike enters sixth week

Striking long term care workers from across Nova Scotia are set to rally outside the Halifax Convention Centre on Monday afternoon, where Premier Tim Houston is scheduled to deliver his state of the province address. The demonstration, organized by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, comes as roughly 3,500 workers at 35 long term care facilities enter their sixth week on strike, with wages and working conditions at the center of the labor dispute.

Union officials said the rally is intended to pressure the provincial government to negotiate a fair contract. Christa Sweeney, chair of CUPE’s Long Term and Community Care Committee, stated that the government has a responsibility to listen to the workers, who she described as voters as well as employees. Mark Hancock, CUPE National President, said that if Premier Houston is speaking about the state of the province, he cannot ignore the state of long term care.

The event is scheduled from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Delegates attending the CUPE Nova Scotia annual convention are expected to march from the Westin Nova Scotian to the Halifax Convention Centre. The union said that community and political allies, as well as labor leaders, will...