Over 2,200 Nova Scotia Care Workers Launch Strike

More than 2,200 long-term care workers in Nova Scotia walked off the job Monday morning, launching a strike at 22 facilities across the province to demand higher wages amid stalled contract negotiations with the government.

The workers, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, include continuing care assistants, licensed practical nurses, physiotherapists, housekeeping staff and support roles such as dietary and laundry aides. Union officials described the action as a push for a living wage after collective agreements expired in 2023. They are seeking a flat $5-per-hour raise for all classifications, which could amount to as much as a 41 percent increase for lower-paid members. "If you're working full time, you should be able to afford rent and groceries, but some people have to live out of their cars," said Ty Loppie, a long-term care worker and union spokesperson.

The province has offered a four-year deal that would raise wages by 12 to 24 percent, including retroactive pay from 2023, a 70 percent boost to shift and weekend premiums, and new funding to expand eligibility for a defined benefit pension plan. Long-term Care Minister Barbara Adams noted that the...