Long-term care workers at Harbour View Haven in Lunenburg have voted overwhelmingly in favour of taking strike action as contract talks continue.
CUPE Local 4919 says 97 percent of its members supported the mandate, joining more than 50 other CUPE-represented nursing homes that have held similar votes across Nova Scotia this month.
Local president Laura Stewart said members are struggling with rising living costs and wages they say have not kept pace. She said many workers are juggling multiple jobs or choosing between basic expenses, despite working in a sector that cares for vulnerable residents every day.
CUPE’s long-term care coordinator Tammy Martin said the ongoing staffing shortages and worker turnover are key concerns at the bargaining table.
She pointed to recent sector data showing workers leaving the field and facilities facing difficulty meeting recommended care-hour standards.
Coordinated bargaining involving all participating CUPE homes is continuing today and tomorrow.
The union says the strike mandate does not mean a walkout is imminent, but gives negotiators authority to take further action if talks fail.
