Atlantic Baptist nursing home employees get 12-15 per cent wage hikes

Union employees at the Atlantic Baptist Nursing Home will get wage increases of between 12 to 15 per cent over the next three years following an arbitration decision issued last month.
Besides the substantial wage adjustment, the new collective agreement will see 18 new permanent part-time positions created and posted, as well as improvements in vacation entitlement, bereavement leave, dry cleaning allowances, sick leave entitlement, severance and retirement allowance, as well as increased contributions to the employee's defined pension plan.
"The Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2523 and Atlantic Baptist Nursing Homes Inc. in Charlottetown have concluded their most recent round of collective bargaining and the employees will see substantial increases in their pay and benefits as a result," says Bill McKinnon, CUPE national representative.
CUPE Local 2523 represents 115 employees at the Atlantic Baptist Nursing Home in Charlottetown in all classifications including resident care workers, LNA's, resident attendants, laundry, dietary and housekeeping service workers as well as cooks, activities and maintenance workers.
These employees have been without a contract since June 30, 2007 said McKinnon. The parties spent six days in negotiations between Sept. 10 2007, and March 17, 2008. Conciliation talks occurred over two days on May 6-7, 2008 without an agreement being reached. The Interest arbitration process was held before Bruce Outhouse, a well respected arbitrator from Halifax, on Feb. 25, 2009. The arbitration award itself was issued on Nov. 5.
"Depending on an employee's classification they will receive wage increases of either 4 or 5 per cent per year over the three years of this agreement, retroactive to July 1, 2007.
" It was a long road, but the results are very positive, and should make for a very happy holiday season for these employees and their families," said McKinnon.