About 350 health care support workers in the Northern Manitoba Regional Health Authority voted to join CUPE Mar. 26. They had been members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 600.
The SEIU and its members in Nor-Man reached a conclusion that an internally managed representation vote was necessary for a variety of reasons.
Yesterday’s vote was between CUPE and the United Food and Commercial Workers union. With a turn out of about 70% of the membership, over 60% voted for CUPE. A runoff vote the week before included the United Steel Workers of America.
CUPE and SEIU members living in the area were very helpful in getting the CUPE message out to the former SEIU members. Reports from the workplaces involved also showed members of other unions promoting CUPE.
The short campaign focused on CUPE as the provincial ‘heath care union’ because of CUPE’s experience and success in getting major improvements to our members wages and benefits.
