Latest news with #KathyMacLeod
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Home support workers in Baddeck, N.S., vote in favour of strike
Workers at Victoria County Home Support Service (VCHSS) in Baddeck, N.S., voted 100 per cent in favour of a strike late last week. The local union that represents the workers cites lack of guaranteed hours, wages, and wear and tear on personal vehicles for the decision. 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, in a Tuesday news release. Lewis-Pierrard said the service provider only had one new hire last year. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages,' she said. CUPE home support sector coordinator Kathy MacLeod added it is difficult for workers to make long term plans due to fluctuating hours. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day,' she said in the release. The union is also asking for improved workplace safety language and better protections for CCAs working in the field. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
National Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Baddeck Home Support Workers vote 100% in favour of a strike
Article content VICTORIA COUNTY, Nova Scotia — Late last week, home support workers at Victoria County Home Support (VCHSS) voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate, citing no guaranteed hours, unfair wages, workplace safety, and wear and tear on personal vehicles as their main issues. Article content Article content 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, the local union that represents the workers of VCHSS. Article content Like many other home support Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), home support workers at VCHSS do not have guaranteed hours of work. This means that their hours fluctuate week to week and are subject to change based on the client's needs. Yet, despite this instability, all home support workers are expected to own their own reliable vehicle with insurance and a Nova Scotian registration. Article content 'We had one new hire in 2024. The only new hire that stayed before that was in 2018,' said Lewis-Pierrard. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages.' Article content 'It's impossible for CCAs in this sector to make any long term plans,' said CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator Kathy MacLeod. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day.' Article content Another issue remaining on the table is improved workplace safety language. Home support workers are expected to enter client homes unaccompanied to provide care, often in remote areas without cell service or reception. The local is fighting for a more clear and effective process for when incidents arise and better protections for the CCAs working in the field. Article content 'None of us want to strike, but we are all prepared to if that's what it takes for our issues to be addressed. We believe in the value of home support to the health care system; we know how important it is to help people stay in their homes longer. We deserve fair pay; we deserve a safe working environment; and we deserve stable working hours,' finished Lewis-Pierrard. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information, please contact: Kathy MacLeod CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator (902) 578-3304 Article content Trish Lewis-Pierrard CUPE 4354 President (902) 317-0136 Article content Article content
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Baddeck Home Support Workers vote 100% in favour of a strike
VICTORIA COUNTY, Nova Scotia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2025-- Late last week, home support workers at Victoria County Home Support (VCHSS) voted 100% in favour of a strike mandate, citing no guaranteed hours, unfair wages, workplace safety, and wear and tear on personal vehicles as their main issues. 'After four years out of contract and seven months of bargaining, we're tired of waiting for the Nova Scotia government and our employer to recognize our issues,' said Trish Lewis-Pierrard, president of CUPE 4354, the local union that represents the workers of VCHSS. Like many other home support Continuing Care Assistants (CCAs), home support workers at VCHSS do not have guaranteed hours of work. This means that their hours fluctuate week to week and are subject to change based on the client's needs. Yet, despite this instability, all home support workers are expected to own their own reliable vehicle with insurance and a Nova Scotian registration. 'We had one new hire in 2024. The only new hire that stayed before that was in 2018,' said Lewis-Pierrard. 'When I started in 2007, we had 26 CCAs on staff. Now we have 16. That isn't sustainable. New graduates need to want to come to VCHSS for their career and stay, and that's not going to happen with unstable hours and low wages.' 'It's impossible for CCAs in this sector to make any long term plans,' said CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator Kathy MacLeod. 'Every week, their hours and pay can change based on the clients. This doesn't happen in any other sector. No CCA in long term care or at the hospitals has their pay change depending on how many residents or patients they see in a day.' Another issue remaining on the table is improved workplace safety language. Home support workers are expected to enter client homes unaccompanied to provide care, often in remote areas without cell service or reception. The local is fighting for a more clear and effective process for when incidents arise and better protections for the CCAs working in the field. 'None of us want to strike, but we are all prepared to if that's what it takes for our issues to be addressed. We believe in the value of home support to the health care system; we know how important it is to help people stay in their homes longer. We deserve fair pay; we deserve a safe working environment; and we deserve stable working hours,' finished Lewis-Pierrard. CUPE 4354 is the third CUPE Home Support local to take a positive strike vote. :so/cope491 View source version on CONTACT: For more information, please contact: Kathy MacLeod CUPE Home Support Sector Coordinator (902) 578-3304 Trish Lewis-Pierrard CUPE 4354 President (902) 317-0136 Taylor Johnston CUPE Atlantic Communications Representative [email protected] KEYWORD: NORTH AMERICA CANADA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: MANAGED CARE PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT LABOR HEALTH SOURCE: CUPE Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 05/27/2025 09:35 AM/DISC: 05/27/2025 09:34 AM
