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“There are solidarity pickets going up at other home support agencies across the province as our members go out on strike tomorrow and take a stand for parity. This is an issue of fairness for all NSGEU/NUPGE home support workers.” — Joan Jessome, NSGEU President.
Halifax (28 Feb. 2014) — Members of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU/NUPGE) who work as home support workers at Northwood will be on strike at 8 a.m. on February 28 for a fair agreement.
Home support workers to strike over wage parity with hospitals
“These workers are asking to be paid the same wage as those who do their same jobs in hospitals," says NSGEU President Joan Jessome. “We have offered the McNeil government the option of arbitration in order to avoid the strike but he has opted to push us out on the street in an effort to control the bargaining process.”
There are over 420 members of the bargaining unit who support seniors, children, and adults, allowing them to stay in their own homes.
Liberal government moving to block strike action by introducing essential services legislation
The McNeil government intends to interfere with the free collective bargaining process and introduce essential services legislation tomorrow that will take away the power of strikes.
“There are solidarity pickets going up at other home support agencies across the province as our members go out on strike tomorrow and take a stand for parity,” says Jessome. “This is an issue of fairness for all NSGEU/NUPGE home support workers.”
The NSGEU/NUPGE members are gathering at the union offices at 8 a.m. to travel to the legislature on buses.
NSGEU/NUPGE also represents approximately 700 Victoria Order of Nurses (VON) home support workers in Shelburne, Barrington, Pictou, the Valley, and Colchester County who have a legal strike date of March 4. There are nine other home support locals lined up behind the VON with strike dates through March.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE