Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard. (Photo credit: Government of New Brunswick)
Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard is clarifying the details of a new offer for nursing home workers represented by CUPE.
She says CUPE has downplayed their wage demand but, Shephard says they have demanded wage increases of 20 per cent over four years plus additional compensation adjustments.
While the government is open to funding wage increases for nursing home workers, Shephard describes these demands as out of line with what 24 public service bargaining groups have accepted which include hospital workers.
Shephard says these wage increases would cost provincial taxpayers $28 million more each year.
Meanwhile, the interim Liberal leader is reminding the Social Development Minister the nursing home workers dispute is not about her but instead about people who actually live and work in provincial nursing homes.
Denis Landry notes Dorothy Shephard said she was “comfortable” with staffing levels at nursing homes in the province.
Landry calls on the Higgs government to go back to the negotiating table and prevent a strike in provincial nursing homes.
He also wants them to treat workers with fairness by respecting the collective bargaining process.
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