Hundreds of Northwood Homecare workers could be on strike as early as Monday after rejecting their employer's latest offer Wednesday night.

Over 350 unionized home support workers care for 1,600 clients in the Halifax area. About 88 per cent voted in favour of rejecting the offer.

The Nova Scotia and General Employees Union says the worker's main issue is unpaid, on-call scheduling. A homecare worker who is paid for an eight-hour day is on-call for 10 hours.

The homecare company says it needs the scheduling flexibility to meet its clients' needs including bathing, dressing and preparing meals.

"Their needs don't fit into a nice, neat package," said John Verlinden, spokesman for Northwood Homecare.

Joan Jessome, president of NSGEU, says the two hours of unpaid time is unreasonable.

"You could be sitting on the side of the road, you could be sitting at Tim Hortons. But you can't go home, you can't do something else because in order to get that 8 hours pay you have to be available for ten,'" she said..

"It takes some creative thinking, but we're going to end up on strike over this issue if the employer doesn't come to the table with a much better offer."

Gail Kernick has relied on Northwood Homecare for more than 15 years after a stroke.

"I know a lot of the girls and they're very,very nice girls, believe me I've met several over the years. And you know they try their best, they do their best. I hope if they do go on strike they get what they want and I hope they come back soon," she said.

The workers visit Kernick three mornings a week and help with cleaning and other chores she can't do.

If workers strike, Jernick says she'll have to rely on the kindness of friends. Unless negotiations resume, Jessome says workers could be on the picket line Monday.