BRANDONMembers of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) who work at the Hillcrest Place Nursing Home have agreed to resume negotiations with the assistance of a conciliation officer.
“All our members want is to negotiate a fair wage settlement,” said Phyllis Denbow, President of CUPE Local 2526. “We believe going back to the bargaining table is a positive move.”
The CUPE members and their private employer Mel Fages will resume negotiations with the conciliation officer in early April. Fages last wage offer to the employees was less than half his recent settlement with Hillcrest nurses.
Fages gave nurses a three-year agreement with wage increases of 5 %, 3 % and 3 %. His offer to CUPE members at a meeting in February was 3 %, 2 %, and 2 %. CUPE Staff Rep. Wayne Smith said the difference amounts to an increase of about 30 cents an hour for union members compared to about 80 to 90 cents an hour for nurses.
“These employees deserve better from this employer,” said Smith. “Their day-to-day work with residents is just as important to the quality of care and environment at Hillcrest Place.”
Smith said Fages exceeded government guidelines for the nurses wage increase but the private employer has told CUPE workers that he wont offer them more unless the provincial government increases his funding.
The CUPE members work as personal care aides, laundry, housekeeping and dietary employees. Local 2526 has 100 members who work at Hillcrest Place Nursing Home. Their contract with Fages expired April 30th last year.
For more information, please contact:
Phyllis Denbow, President CUPE Local 2526
Hillcrest Place Nursing Home, Brandon
Ph: 727-8740 (Home)
Wayne Smith, CUPE Staff Representative
Brandon office: 725-8881