CUPE protests had nursing home workers in the Saint John-area travelling to five different care facilities in the region.
Negotiations continue in hopes of reaching a deal between the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes and over 4000 workers at 45 provincial nursing homes without a contract since 2016.
CUPE members who work at Saint John-area nursing homes protest outside the Turnbull Home on Britain Streets. They are seeking a new contract after being without one for more two years. pic.twitter.com/UePDdvBOqH
— Tamara Steele (she/her) 🇨🇦 (@tamarasteele1) March 12, 2019
Tammy Nadeau represents CUPE Local 1603 at Rocmaura Nursing Home and she tells CHSJ News she’s hopeful but cautious after working for 19 years in this struggle.
“I am going to depend on the union to get us this and not the government. I really do hope in good faith that they show up and give us what we are asking for because we don’t want to go on strike, we don’t want to hold uur residents hostage but, we don’t want to go in there for the peanuts we are working for and the working conditions we are under.”
In a typical shift, Nadeau says most nursing home workers hit the ground running and leave work feeling physically, emotionally exhausted and drained.
