CUPE members protest outside the Turnbull nursing home in Saint John. (Photo Credit: Tamara Steele)
Thousands of New Brunswick nursing home workers will be allowed to go on strike for at least another four weeks.
A New Brunswick Court of Appeal judge has extended a stay order, preventing the workers at 46 nursing homes from walking off the job.
The province asked the Court of Queen’s Bench for a stay earlier in March until the court reviews a labour board ruling which deemed a section of the Essential Services in Nursing Homes Act unconstitutional.
In a statement, Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard says extending the stay will protect nursing home residents from a strike without any essential services.
“While this is positive news for nursing home residents, we remain committed to working towards a negotiated agreement with the union,” said Shephard.
“We are prepared to return to the table once the mediator recommends that negotiations should resume.”
But CUPE New Brunswick, which represents the workers, says extending the order prevents their right to strike.
The matter is scheduled to return to court on April 17.
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