Home care workers in Lunenburg and Queens counties have voted 97 percent in favour of strike action, citing years of stalled contract talks and a growing gap in support compared to other healthcare sectors.

The roughly 117 members of CUPE Local 3936—who work for Lunenburg County Home Support Services Society—have been without a contract for four years and have spent the last two in negotiations that union president Sherry Whynacht says have gone nowhere.

“We’ve reached a deadlock,” said Whynacht in an interview. “We’ve been trying to get guaranteed hours, better wages, and improved workplace safety—but we’re not being heard.”

Unlike Continuing Care Assistants working in hospitals or long-term care, home care workers often aren’t paid if client appointments are cancelled, making their hours and income unreliable. Whynacht says that gap in stability and compensation is pushing people out of the sector.

“People are leaving home care to go into long-term care or hospital jobs because they feel more appreciated,” she said. “The wages are lower, the job is more isolating, and we’re still expected to cover costs like gas and car maintenance out of pocket.”

Home care workers often use their own vehicles to travel between clients, and part-time workers don’t qualify for long-term disability coverage despite paying the full premium when eligible. The union is also asking for more paid snow day hours and improvements to how part-time shifts are structured.

While the vote shows strong support for a strike, Whynacht says the union is still holding out hope for a negotiated deal. Conciliation is scheduled for July 3.

“We are remaining positive that with the conciliator’s help, we won’t have to strike,” she said. “But members are ready if it comes to that.”

No strike date has been set. A mandatory 14-day cooling-off period would follow any failed conciliation session.

Whynacht says the issues also affect clients who rely on home support to stay in their homes.

“There’s a waitlist. There’s a shortage of workers. It trickles down to the people we care for.”

The union represents workers across both Lunenburg and Queens counties. CUPE says home care plays a critical role in the healthcare system, but its workers are not being treated on par with others in similar frontline roles.