• About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home Labour

New Brunswick must fix staffing shortages in nursing homes, says union leader [video]

by Arun Budhathoki
November 18, 2022
Reading Time: 3min read
New Brunswick must fix staffing shortages in nursing homes, says union leader [video]

Sharon Teare, president of the CUPE New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions (centre), rallies with other nursing home workers and their supporters outside the courthouse in Fredericton on March 15, 2019. Photo: CUPE

The New Brunswick government announced this week that it is inviting operators of all 71 nursing homes in the province to express their interest in joining its “Nursing Homes Without Walls” program.

The pilot project is meant to assist seniors who live at home by providing certain services. But the president of the union representing nursing home workers questions how the program will work given ongoing staff shortages.

“Look, I’m gonna tell you, in theory, I love this idea,” said Sharon Teare, president of the New Brunswick Council of Nursing Home Unions, noting that it could help residents remain in their homes.

“But now we have to take in consideration, how beneficial is that program? And what kind of strain will it … put onto the staffing crisis that New Brunswick nursing homes are facing?”

Check out the full interview with reporter Arun Budhathoki: 

She said the province is facing extreme staff shortages, and this is continuing to worsen.

According to Teare, there are more than 300 vacancies within the nursing home system.

“Now within five years, we have a 400 that are projected to retire,” she said, citing a poll carried out by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

For a program like Nursing Homes Without Walls to work, she said, “I think we really have to take a hard look at the retention and recruitment.”

The government is expected to expand the program to 16 locations by 2023, which will emerge in spring and fall.

In an email statement to the NB Media Co-op, a Department of Social Development spokesperson said: “The Department is certainly aware of the staffing-related challenges that long-term care is facing. We are actively working with partners like the New Brunswick Association of Nursing Homes, the regional health authorities, and Department of Health to explore solutions. Among the initiatives taking place, we are working with our partners to ensure active representation at multiple job fairs online and in person.”

In terms of wages, spokesperson Rebecca Howland said: “Last year, $12.4M was invested in wage increases for over 10,000 workers in the human service sector. This included home support workers, community residence workers, special care home workers, and family support workers.”

Arun Budhathoki is a journalist with the NB Media Co-op. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada, administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Stations and Users (CACTUS).

Tags: Arun BudhathokiCUPENew Brunswick Council of Nursing Home UnionsSharon Teare
TweetSend

Related Posts

NB Update: Rent cap will fail unless tied to unit, says prof | Labour perspective on Canada Post workers’ strike [video]
Housing

NB Update: Rent cap will fail unless tied to unit, says prof | Labour perspective on Canada Post workers’ strike [video]

November 27, 2024

In this edition of the NB Update, we hear from activists who fought for the New Brunswick government to implement...

Union leaders previously banned from Legislative Assembly return as Higgs-era edict lifted
Labour

Union leaders previously banned from Legislative Assembly return as Higgs-era edict lifted

November 19, 2024

Three union leaders from the Canadian Union of Public Employees who were previously banned from the Legislative Assembly were allowed...

Labour Update: Postal workers strike; CUPE hopes labour relations improve under Holt [video]
Labour

Labour Update: Postal workers strike; CUPE hopes labour relations improve under Holt [video]

November 15, 2024

The NB Media Co-op presents the latest edition of Labour Update. For this edition of the show, host David Gordon...

Nursing home workers’ union opposes Horizon hiring scheme
Labour

Nursing home workers’ union opposes Horizon hiring scheme

September 18, 2024

The union representing nursing home workers in New Brunswick says the provincial government plans to staff a nursing home in...

Load More

Recommended

Nakba Day: We will never forget the ongoing catastrophe in Palestine

Nakba Day: We will never forget the ongoing catastrophe in Palestine

2 days ago
Activists gather to oppose billionaire, corporate power: ‘You’re not alone in feeling this way’ [video]

Activists gather to oppose billionaire, corporate power: ‘You’re not alone in feeling this way’ [video]

7 hours ago
A beacon of light: Hidden 2sLGBTQ+ histories in Saint John’s The Lighthouse

A beacon of light: Hidden 2sLGBTQ+ histories in Saint John’s The Lighthouse

1 day ago
Lorneville residents speak out against industrial park expansion at marathon public hearing [video]

Lorneville residents speak out against industrial park expansion at marathon public hearing [video]

19 hours ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

X
Did you like this article? Support the NB Media Co-op! Vous avez aimé cet article ? Soutenez la Coop Média NB !
Join/Donate