Union Frustrated By Passage Of Nursing Home Bill

Union leaders are frustrated with the new essential services bill for nursing home workers in New Brunswick.

The legislation, which passed third reading Friday, places restrictions on the binding arbitration process.

An arbitrator would be required to consider several conditions, including the province’s ability to pay.

Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, said the current process has been working fine for many years.

“Why restrict one getting through that process and why put parameters in and around that? The process is already fair so there was no need to change it,” said Teare in a phone interview Friday.

Union leaders and opposition parties have called on the government to remove the ability-to-pay conditions, but Premier Blaine Higgs previously said that was not something he could accept.

• Nursing Home Bill Passes In Legislature

Teare said she has no idea why the government was so adamant about the condition.

“It’s stripping away the rights of the workers and to that is unfortunate,” she said. “I think it was just to satisfy a political agenda.”

Teare said nursing home workers are not about to give up, but many are frustrated by Friday’s decision.

“Many have said that they’re actually applying and are prepared to resign because they can’t continue to work in those types of conditions for what it is that they are receiving,” she said.

The previous law on essential services in nursing homes was found unconstitutional by a labour board.

A judge upheld the ruling after a lengthy court battle and gave the province until Jan. 2 to come up with a new law.

Teare did not rule out future legal action, adding the legislation is currently under review.