Striking CUPE workers block access to Cape Breton health-care complex

Striking long-term care workers are pictured outside the Northside Health Complex in North Sydney, N.S. (Ryan MacDonald/CTV Atlantic)

Striking long-term care workers in Cape Breton blocked access to a health-care complex under construction on Thursday.

About two dozen people gathered outside the Northside Health Complex, which is being built in the Northside Industrial Park.

The health centre is set to replace Northside General Hospital in North Sydney, N.S., and will feature a new long-term care home.

Those on the picket line said the construction workers building the new facility have expressed solidarity with them and they won’t cross the picket line.

Those on strike also said they were blocking access to the site to express their frustration how long the job action has been going on.

Thousands of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) members have been on strike in Nova Scotia since April 13.

The union has said its major focus is improved wages for workers.

CUPE and the province returned to the bargaining table last week, but talks broke off again. No new meetings are currently scheduled.

The union represents workers at 52 long-term care homes in the province.

There are currently 36 facilities on strike:

• Melville Lodge in Halifax
• Admiral and White Hills Long Term Care Centres in Halifax
• Maplestone Enhanced Care in Halifax
• St. Vincent’s Nursing Home in Halifax
• Shoreham Village in Chester
• Grand View Manor in Berwick
• Alderwood Rest Home in Baddeck
• Magnolia Continuing Care Centre in Enfield
• Richmond Villa in St. Peter’s
• Lunenburg Home for Special Care in Lunenburg
• Northside Community Guest Home in North Sydney
• Harbourstone Enhanced Care in Sydney River
• Shiretown Nursing Home in Pictou
• Ivey’s Terrace Nursing Home in Trenton
• Bayside Home in Barrington
• Maple Hill Manor in New Waterford
• Seaview Manor in Glace Bay
• Maritime Odd Fellows in Pictou
• Valley View Manor in Stellarton
• Ocean View Continuing Care in Eastern Passage
• Bisset Court in Cole Harbour
• Glasgow Hall in Dartmouth
• Queen’s Manor in Liverpool
• Villa St. Joseph-du-Lac in Dayton
• Roseway Manor in Shelburne
• Celtic Court in Membertou
• The Birches in Musquodoboit Harbour
• Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home in Port Hawkesbury
• St. Anne Nursing Care Centre in Arichat
• Ryan Hall in Bridgewater
• Surf Lodge in Lockeport
• The Meadows in Yarmouth
• Ivy Meadows in Beaver Bank
• Inverary Manor in Inverness
• Foyer Père Fiset in Chéticamp
• Glen Haven Manor in New Glasgow

The workers in front of the Northside Health Complex are expected to leave the site by mid-Thursday afternoon.

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