Long-term care workers across Nova Scotia are rallying for change as they prepare to go on strike.

Staff at St. Vincent’s in Halifax gathered outside the care home on Friday, joined by CUPE union representatives, calling for change. According to members, Nova Scotians remain the lowest-paid long-term care workers in Atlantic Canada.

The chair for LTC and community committee tells our newsroom that their concerns have gone unanswered by Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barb Adams.

Krista Sweeney says, “We’re tired of not being paid what we deserve, and we are tired of having to fight for what should be rightfully ours. We know that we deserve a living wage, and we know that we’re ready to make that happen. They don’t think that we’re serious. They block us on Facebook, try and block us now.”

One longtime employee, Tracy Eyslaunwhite, says after decades of service, she’s still making pennies.

“I did the math. I started off at $8.50 an hour,” Tracy explains. “37 years. I am now making $18.77 an hour that equals 27 and a half cents a year.”

During recent legislative talks, Minister Barb Adams said she doesn’t believe there is a problem and urged CUPE members to accept the current deal, noting that other unions and sectors in healthcare have already done so.

The NDP’s Minister Rod Wilson raised concerns about staff shortages impacting things like laundry and meal service, stating that the risk of infection will go up if quality of care goes down.

CUPE representative, Wanda Marriot, says, “before we can go on strike, we needed an essential service agreement so our seniors are taking care of. That’s our number one priority. We need to be respected for the work that we do. We need to be fairly paid for the work that we do.

“We’re basically in a recession right now, and people are finding it hard to make ends meet. And eventually, what’s gonna happen? You’re not gonna get people coming for these jobs anymore, and then what happens to our seniors?”

Minister Adams assures that those living in LTC will be taken care of by law, even if strike action happens.

John Hutton, the grandson of a woman currently living at St. Vincent’s, showed up to support staff. He says after visiting for years he saw that, “people couldn’t get their vacations approved, and they were just burning out, and they were feeling disrespected, and the pay was not up to par for the work they were doing.”

He adds, “Everybody gets old. Everybody wants to make sure that when we reach that end of life, not only can we receive the care we need, but the people who are providing that have a good experience. It’s all connected and important that we stand together.”