Support staff in Nova Scotia hospitals and public schools outside of Halifax are meeting this weekend to prepare for a possible strike.

More than 7,000 workers could be off the job by the end of next week.

Despite the looming deadline, there are still no plans to resume negotiations, said Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) spokesman John McCracken.

"Not a peep, not a word, nothing," he said Saturday. "In fact, there hasn't been any bargaining with either group since well before Christmas, since the end of November."

'We can't predict the future, but we're still committed to reaching a contract.'—Greg Boone, Cape Breton District Health Authority

Contract talks between the province and CUPE broke down over the government's offer of a one per cent wage increase. The union is seeking 2.9 per cent to maintain wage parity with Halifax workers.

The joint strike would affect 33 hospitals around the province, every school outside the Halifax Regional School Board and three French schools in Halifax.

It's up to the conciliator to re-engage both sides in the dispute, said McCracken.

Greg Boone, spokesman for the Cape Breton District Health Authority, said the government has been very clear about the limits the eight health authorities can spend on a new contract.

Nevertheless, he believes a deal is still possible. "There are always options and opportunities that will lead toward a negotiated settlement. However, we can't predict the future, but we're still committed to reaching a contract," he said.

Meanwhile, as the Jan. 18 strike deadline approaches, schools and hospitals are preparing contingency plans.

The hospital workers include X-ray technicians, housekeeping, clerical and other support staff. The school employees include bus drivers, teacher's assistants and cafeteria workers.

The CUPE members have been in a legal strike position since Nov. 17.