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More than 100 members of CUPE 2719 at the Maples nursing home in Winnipeg were locked out on June 21 by the homes for-profit management. The lockout is a clear indication of managements desire to continue paying low wages just to boost its own profit.

Despite providing round-the-clock care for seniors in the home, workers make far less than similar workers in the public sector throughout Manitoba. In some cases, the difference is almost $2 an hour on wages of $10. Management has refused to narrow the gap because increasing wages would decrease its profit.

No-one is getting rich for $10 an hour. But management is getting rich because were paid only $10 an hour, said local President Ofelia Evangelista. Locking us out is a clear statement of the Maples desire to cut service and keep wages low just to make a profit.

Members set up pickets on June 22, telling family members why care is threatened. Knowing how valuable the workers are to seniors care, family members are angered at managements decision to lock the workers out.