Five nurses who work for the Nischawayasihk Personal Care Home on the northern Manitoba reserve of Nelson House went on strike last week.
Sandi Mowat, president of the Manitoba Nurses Union, says the strike is over wages.
Mowat said the nurses are being paid less than other nurses in Manitoba.
“Our proposal was to have an agreement that would bring them up to the same pay scale as the other nurses in Manitoba,” she said.
Nurses went to the bargaining table with the personal care home during the week of May 10, but talks broke down, which led to the strike.
The provincial government has agreed to fund its portion of what nurses are asking for, but the federal government had yet to agree to the same as of press time yesterday.
Michelle Perron, a spokeswoman for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, said the federal government is committed to ensuring the health and safety of First Nation people and communities.
“An essential services agreement is in place to ensure residents are receiving the necessary care and are not being relocated due to the labour dispute,” Perron said.
