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"This significant pay increase is a long-awaited acknowledgment of the value of the crucial work that you do, each and every day." — Jason MacLean, NSGEU President
Halifax (10 Feb. 2022) —After years of lobbying the government to address the wage disparity of continuing care assistants (CCAs) across the province, the government announced that all CCAs in Nova Scotia will receive a pay increase of approximately 23%.
Wage raise a long time coming
Wages for unionized and non-unionized CCAs at all levels in the publicly funded sector will increase, bringing the top annual salary to $48,419. For most full-time CCAs, this is an annual increase of close to $9,000 a year. Those currently at the top of their pay scale will reach this level immediately.
“To be clear: this significant pay increase is a long-awaited acknowledgment of the value of the crucial work that you do, each and every day," said Jason MacLean, President of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees’ Union (NSGEU/NUPGE). “For far too long, successive governments have ignored the significance of the work you do, and the role that Continuing Care plays in ensuring our acute health care system can function.”
Pandemic highlighted work of CCAs
MacLean continued, “The pandemic put us in a position that government could ignore this issue no longer. We give this government full credit for understanding that compensation is a core issue to ensuring staff recruitment and retention and are hopeful that this increased compensation helps to attract workers into this sector, and keep them there, to help those of you who have been dedicated to clients for so long.”
Bargaining will still take place to address contract provisions and language that will continue to improve working conditions.
“In addition to the news about this pay increase, I would like to thank all of the members who took the time to participate in the call with the Premier and Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care last night,” said MacLean. “I believe the Minister and Premier heard your concerns loud and clear. Your feedback made an impact and certainly gave these political leaders a real sense of the challenges you are facing in the workplace on a daily basis.”
NSGEU optimistic of meaningful change in sector
MacLean concluded saying, “I am cautiously optimistic that we are finally taking the first steps on the path towards meaningful change in the Continuing Care sector. I again want to thank you for the work you are doing, and your advocacy. It is critical that frontline workers continue to lead the way, and we will remain at your side as we push for positive change together.”
NSGEU/NUPGE has created an online form for members to send their concerns regarding working conditions to the Premier and Minister. You can click here to fill out this form.