The province is urging the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes and the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions to return to the bargaining table.
More than 4,100 workers at 45 non-profit nursing homes will vote Thursday whether to go on strike.
They include LPNs, resident assistants, housekeeping, kitchen and maintenance staff.
The union is pushing for “fair economic” wage increases which keep up with the cost of living.
In a statement, Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard says they remain hopeful an agreement can be reached to avoid a strike.
“We are working closely with the Nursing Home Association of New Brunswick to ensure contingency plans are in place for every possible scenario, but we hope it does not get to that stage,” said Shephard.
Shephard noted collective agreements in the nursing home sector have typically followed wage settlement patterns for hospital workers, ensuring wage parity between the two sectors.
“Balancing fiscal responsibility with ensuring these workers are compensated fairly is important,” she said.
The province has also applied for a judicial review of a 2018 decision by the Labour and Employment Board regarding the legislation on essential services in the event of a strike.
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