The lack of parking for healthcare workers has always been a concern and now it is getting worse, according to the president of the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU), Sandra Mullens.
The Robie Street parkade is about to be demolished in less than two weeks as part of the QEII expansion.
This means hundreds of parking spots are about to go away.
Other options have been provided as an alternative, including the Summer Street parkade, as well as an expansion of the parking lot at the Garrison Grounds.
However, Mullens tells us, that is simply not enough and NSGEU members are “laughing”.
“They consider it insufficient. There are some suggestions in consideration that maybe there needs to be some secure parking lot somewhere and they bus folks over.”
Mullens adds that members will not be able to use the Garrison Grounds if there is an event.
In addition to that, the Summer Street parkade will not be available from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on weekdays.
24/7
Staff are encouraged to walk, take transit and even bike to work when the parkade comes down.
It’s under a new program, Options for Parking and Transportation, implemented by Partners for Care, which encourages “active and sustainable transportation”.
Partners for Care is a non-profit service provider that assists Nova Scotia Health with parking, staff engagement and patient experience.
This, however, does not work for everybody, according to Mullens and those who use transit, are already using it now.
She says their team works 24/7 and safe and secure parking is a concern for those who not only have to work really early but are called in, in the middle of the night.
“I was advised of someone who is … you know… cannot take transit to their position because they have to be at the hospital at quarter to six, the first bus does not pass his home in time.”
She says, if it is Monday to Friday and the parkade is unavailable, you might not take the shift.
Members will be offered five taxi vouchers a year, if they do take public transit, but Mullens says this is not enough.
What to do?
For a long time, union members have wanted parking in their contracts.
Mullens says there is an inequality between those who work on the peninsula and those who work elsewhere in the province, like Truro or Yarmouth.
In these areas, parking is not a concern.
She says on the peninsula, they need to expand on what they were thinking would work and go a little further.
Our newsroom reached out to Nova Scotia Health to speak with Partners for Care for an update on the situation but was told they have nothing new to say.
The Robie Street parkade comes down August 26.
