After three years without a ratified nursing home agreement, the New Brunswick Nurses Union and the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes aim to sign off on a new deal this Friday.
It comes after the nurses union filed a complaint against the nursing home association with the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board under the Industrial Labour Relations Act.
NBNU President Paula Doucet told reporters Monday morning the union submitted the complaint on May 13. Union officials also connected with the Department of Social Development, hoping the government would be able to intervene.
Five hundred unionized nursing home workers ratified and signed a tentative agreement on Feb. 10 after a three-year battle to renew their contract. Doucet said the Association of Nursing Homes initially agreed to sign.
During a Monday press conference in Fredericton, Doucet claimed that the association refused to sign on the dotted line and cited no reason for the hold-up.
“The fact that our members are being treated so unfairly, and are expected to continue to show up for work and provide care day after day again shows the shortcomings of the sector,” said Doucet on Monday morning.
Since the nursing home association has not ratified the agreement, the new contract’s details are still under wraps. However, Doucet said some of the benefits listed in the agreement would align with counterparts in the health care sector.
According to the union, it is withholding benefits for 500 registered nurses who work in long-term care.
Michael Keating, the acting CEO of the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, said in a Monday afternoon interview that he understands the nurses union’s frustration.
He said the tentative deal was brought forward to New Brunswick’s nursing homes around the middle of April.
The issue that was holding back members from signing the agreement, he said, was connected to the “financial commitment” to be able to meet new obligations on overtime pay. Keating said the association is not refusing to sign the deal but instead wants to make sure nursing homes can pay the extra costs.
“We are presently negotiating with the province to be able to get the funds necessary,” said Keating.
“The province has advised us that they are going to work collaboratively with us and we’re hoping that by the end of the business day Friday that all nursing homes will have signed the collective agreement.”
Ronda McCready, the union’s unit representative for long-term care nurses, said the province’s seniors don’t deserve less. She said the hours of care for New Brunswick nursing homes are woefully low, averaging 3.3 hours per resident.
“We need help in this sector now more than ever,” said McCready.
“The residents deserve it, facilities deserve it, families deserve it – we deserve it.”
