Its good to finally be paid what were worth, said CUPE spokesperson Melanie, a counsellor at the shelter for abused women. Its recognition for how important our work is within our community.
Through a combination of a new pay plan and negotiated salary increases, the new CUPE agreement ups the maximum salary level from $22,800 to $35,955 for professional counselling staff.
Other contract improvements are a reduction in the work week from 40 to 37.5 hours and a pension plan to start this year.
This agreement goes a long way to recognizing the value of the work performed by these professionals in womens shelters and correcting some long-standing issues that the former Conservative government ignored, CUPE staff representative Brian Ellis said.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canadas largest union representing more than 485,000 women and men across the country. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 23,000 members in health care, education, municipalities, social services, utilities, libraries and emergency services.
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For more information, please contact:
Melanie, spokesperson for
CUPE Local 2348 Genesis House
Phone: (204) 325-9957
(Note: Last name withheld for safety/security policy reasons
Brian Ellis, CUPE staff representative
Phone: (204) 942-0343 ex. 226