CUPE’s province-wide contract for health care support workers in Manitoba is being renegotiated and an important victory has already been won. After three years of being forced to leave work 15 minutes early a day, full-time hours have been restored for workers in rural Manitoba, Brandon and two Winnipeg hospitals. The 15-minute reduction ended on February 4.
Negotiations continue on the contract, which expires on April 30, with more full-time jobs and wage increases being priorities. Health care support workers’ wages in Manitoba have fallen behind inflation in eight of the last nine years, with five years of freezes or reductions.
The contract will also cover support workers in Parkland Region, which concluded its second representation vote on Wednesday. After the first election was nullified following a complaint by another union, CUPE won the second election 204-128 over the International Union of Operating Engineers. Congratulations go out to the dedicated team of activists who endured a difficult campaign.