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WINNIPEG Health Minister David Chomiak will launch Health Care Support Workers Week in Manitoba at a ribbon-cutting ceremony of CUPEs historical Medicare exhibit Monday morning at 11:30 a.m. at the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) in Winnipeg.

Support workers are often the unrecognized backbone of an effective and smoothly operating health care system, says Marlene Tartsch, Chair of CUPEs Provincial Health Care Council. We want to show people who we are and how our work contributes to keeping our Medicare system healthy.

Tartsch says the 10,000 CUPE members who work in health care are staging events in their communities across the province this week.

In Winnipeg, Chomiak will cut the ribbon on CUPEs colourful ten-panel Medicare exhibit at the HSCs Thorlakson Mall where it will be on public display Monday. The exhibit moves to the tunnel connecting Concordia Hospital and Bethania Personal Care Home on Wednesday. On Thursday, the CUPE exhibit moves to Seven Oaks Hospital.

Al Saydak, Vice-President of CUPE 1550 representing workers at the HSC says health care members work in dozens of jobs and make a valuable contribution to the day-to-day well-being and health of all Manitobans.

Like other valued members of the health care team, these workers are deserving of recognition as the pillars of health care for their commitment to patient care, he says.

  • WHO - Health Minister David Chomiak cuts ribbon on CUPE Medicare exhibit
  • WHERE - Thorlakson Mall, Health Sciences Centre (825 Sherbrook St. entrance)
  • WHEN - Monday, November 5th at 11:30 a.m.

CUPE is Canadas largest union representing more than a half-million women and men across the country. In Manitoba, the Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 24,000 members with 10,000 working in health care across the province.

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For more information, contact:
Marlene Tartsch, CUPE PHCC Chair, cell: 794-6817
Lorraine Sigurdson, CUPE Health Care Coordinator, 942-0343 ext. 214