Strike averted at PCH in Niverville

The Executive Director for Heritage Life Personal Care Home in Niverville says he is thrilled that a strike has been avoided.

Eighty-five members from the International Union of Operating Engineers were ready to walk off the job Wednesday morning. Ron Parent says their collective agreement with this group of employees, which includes health care aides, housekeepers, laundry workers, and recreation workers, expired March 31st, 2022. He notes since then there have been ongoing negotiations between the union and employer until last week, when they hired a conciliator to help bridge the gap between some of the outstanding items. 

"We made progress on majority of the items, except for one, which is the biggest item," says Parent. "And that is retroactivity on wages, going back to April 1st of 2022."

Parent says late Tuesday evening there was a tentative deal reached between the union and government. 

"The union was very satisfied with what was presented," says Parent. "And will be moving that proposal to a vote by their members."

Parent says he does not know when this vote will happen but guesses it will likely be within the next two weeks. Parent says he has not seen the final details but assumes that either government or Southern Health-Sante Sud came through with additional funding at the 11th hour. He notes the bottom line is that everything is back to normal at the personal care home.

Parent says it is only natural that some residents or families may have felt some angst earlier this week. 

"It wasn't clearly communicated to us because I think we felt optimistic from the get-go that the government would come through," adds Parent.

Having said that, he notes the personal care home had families reach out and volunteer their services if the strike were to happen. He calls it very inspiring.

"In the six months that I've been here, I have been moved by the generosity, the kindness, and the general interest in the personal care home by the town of Niverville, by the families who have loved ones within the care home," he says. "I am amazed at how kind and generous individuals are in Niverville."

Had staff walked off the job, Parent and other out-of-scope employees and managers would have filled in the gaps to do such things as making beds and assisting during mealtimes. 

Parent says he is excited for the elders that this tentative deal was reached.

"Back to the status quo means they are going to get the great care and services they have been used to," he says. 

He notes the deal also takes some of the pressure off of team members who did not want to strike.

"For all intents and purposes it's a win-win," says Parent. "Our team members get a fair agreement, in line with other provinces and we get back to doing what we love doing, providing care to those entrusted to us."