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Dexter Calls For All Parties to Work to Avert Christmas Strike at Nursing Home |
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Written by NDP News Release
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Tuesday, 20 December 2005 |
NDP Leader Darrell Dexter is calling on both the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union and the Hamm government to quickly agree on a voluntary cooling off period to avert a strike at Duncan MacMillan nursing home in Sheet Harbour that could displace twenty-five elderly residents just before the holidays.
"It's Christmas," says Dexter. "I am convinced that no one involved in this dispute really wants to put these seniors through the trauma of a strike and a move this week. I am sure that something can be done before the strike deadline to give these residents and their families the security of knowing they will stay where they are over Christmas."
"I am calling on both sides, union and employer, to work together to find a way to delay strike action at least by fourteen days to get everyone through the holidays."
The thirty-one personal care workers, LPNs, recreation workers and support staff at Duncan MacMillan voted unanimously in favour of job action after rejecting the province's final contract offer. They will be in a position to strike at midnight, Thursday December 22nd. Dexter says that even if a strike becomes inevitable in the new year, the extra time over the next few weeks will help all parties involved to
work on ways that the residents can be given the best level of care during a strike.
"So many of us have elderly parents," says Dexter. " We know how disruptive any change in environment or routine can be when you are older. Surely the compassionate thing to do is to find a way to hold off on strike action over Christmas." |
