No union success at manor

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

Grand View Manor staff remain union-free.

Results of a certification vote were announced after a count November 1: 154 ballots were counted, with 93 against certification with the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union and 61 in favour. “We were disappointed,” said union president Joan Jessome Nov. 2. “We would have liked to represent staff, and the people helping us did a lot of work.”

This was the union’s second attempt to certify the manor’s continuing care assistants, dietary, laundry and activity, maintenance and housekeeping workers. The first attempt didn’t gather enough cards to call for a certification vote. Work started earlier this year to prepare for this drive, and Jessome said 115 people signed cards asking for a vote. “Not all of those people voted, and there was some slippage,” Jessome said. “Maybe some of the issues are not issues at this time.”

She had earlier cited concerns among some staff about the manor’s shift scheduling, vacation and “catastrophic” days’ use and work area assignments. Broader issues included negotiated wages, an aging work force and occupational health and safety enforcement. “I don’t know if they’ll approach us again, but the employer will likely realize there were 61 people looking at a union for a reason.”

Manor administrator Graham Hardy said the NSGEU and facility officials agreed to exclude summer students and some manor professionals from the actual vote count: over 170 ballots were cast August 10. “We have work to do, and we’re never going to please everyone, but we’ll find out what issues there are and address them.”

Hardy said a staff appreciation night Nov. 3, featuring a turkey dinner and awards, and a staff meeting this week would be a good chance to reinforce administration’s commitment to staff and their concerns.

The manor is a non-profit facility owned and managed by a board of directors from the community and representatives of Kings County Council.