Just two weeks before Christmas, support workers at Queens Association for Supported Living are ready to walk off the job.
The members of Canadian Union of Public Employees local 4963 are upset with inequality in their pension plan.
Residential Counsellor Carrie Mosher, who also serves on the bargaining and strike committees said the union discovered vocational instructors, had been moved out of the existing pension plan and placed into a new plan with a higher contribution from the employer.
Mosher said the move was made over a year ago without the knowledge of the union or its members and only came to light when they were looking at contract changes.
She said members of local 4963 are not okay with being part of a two-tiered system.
“We were very disappointed. We were upset. It really did separate us to know that the employer, who had been looking after our pensions had taken vocational instructors and put them in a different pension plan with an increased contribution, did not tell them or give them a choice, and as well, did not offer it to the rest of our union members and then weren’t forthright about it,” said Mosher.
The mandate of the Queens Association for Supported Living is to help people with disabilities to reach their full potential.
Mosher said the union is prepared to strike Monday, Dec. 14 if this issue is not resolved.
CUPE and the province have been in negotiations on the latest contract for the past 15 months. Mosher is disappointed with the impasse, as up until now, the dialogue between the two sides had been agreeable.
“We have a very successful collective agreement to be signed once this last issue is settled,” said Mosher. “We’ve been waiting, but we’re at a standstill at this point with any decisions.”
Mosher said the union has gone public with their frustrations in order to pressure the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services to resolve the pension issue.
Minister Regan said despite what the union is saying, the issue is not new.
“The pension differences between these employee groups are actually long-standing and have always been accepted,” said Regan.
The minister said she appreciates the work being done at Queens Association for Supported Living.
“This organization delivers a really important service to the local community and we really, we value the contributions the employees make and we don’t want to see that disrupted,” said Regan.
Mosher said she and her fellow union members are concerned about the impact on residents should there be job action.
“We’re dealing with people. We don’t want to disrupt their lives. We realize the importance of the support that they require. It’s very difficult for us to not be able to support people that we truly care about,” said Mosher.
Queens Association for Supported Living does have an essential services agreement in place so even if there is a job action, workers will be in place to care for residents; although Mosher says the level of service may not include many of the extras things staff do over and above their contracted duties.
Mosher said no one wants to strike over Christmas but they are willing to fight for equality within their union. She said the two sides are still meeting in Bridgewater and she hopes they can come to an agreement on the pension issue before more serious action has to be taken.
Reported by Ed Halverson
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson