Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.

CUPE members in Qub0065cs health care and social affairs sectors are facing representation votes this fall as a result of the Charest governments legislative assault on unions.

So far, CUPE has submitted no less than 46 applications, covering employees in 21 institutions. Other applications will follow since this vast operation has only just begun.

The votes will take place by mail-in ballot. The first series of votes begins Sept. 7.

The Charest government passed series of laws in Dec. 2003 that forced institutions in the health and social service sector to restructure. Two in particular, Bills 25 and 30, angered all the unions in the sector.

Bill 25 abolished regional boards and replaced them with local agencies. At the same time, the law merged most hospitals, CHSLDs and CLSCs in the same territory. Bill 30 reorganized bargaining units in the newly-created agencies and institutions, dividing the bargaining units into four categories of employees.

The mail-in votes will decide which union represents workers in the new employee category bargaining units.

The Qub0065c labour board will supervise all votes, which will likely continue until spring 2005.