BARGAINING UPDATE #2

April 5, 2024

The CUPE Bargaining Council and the Provincial Health Labour Relations Services (PHLRS) met on April 4, 2024, to exchange proposal packages and officially start bargaining.

CUPE’s package included requests for improvements to the language of the Collective Agreement including for Community (Home Care) group, seniority, vacation, overtime, and of course monetary proposals such a shift premiums and general wage increases. There are many more improvements in the package. There will be requests for market adjustments for some classifications.
The Bargaining Council will be bargaining every week on Thursdays and Fridays. An update will be provided monthly or if there is something significant to report.

While the details of discussions are confidential during negotiations, we will provide monthly updates. Members will have the final vote on any proposed new contract.

What happens to the Market Adjustment and Pension/Benefits Committees?
The Market Adjustment/Wage Standardization (MAWS) and Pension/Benefit (PBSC) will continue to meet every week until their work is complete. An announcement for the next batch to be paid will be released today as well.

If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to healthcare@cupe.ca.
SMc/wkp/cope 491
April 5, 2024

HEALTH CARE BARGAINING UPDATE #23

HEALTH CARE BARGAINING UPDATE #23
No health care worker left behind
April 5, 2024

The Market Adjustment and Wage Standardization Committee (MAWS) continues to work on the market adjustments. The MAWS have reached an agreement on the second “batch”.
Included in this “batch” of standardization/market adjustment payments are:
1.
Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians (applicable to Health Sciences Centre and Rehabilitation Centre for Children only) – 3.2% – 5%
2.
Journeyperson Electrician, Carpenters, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters – 10%
3.
Journeyperson Refrigeration Mechanics, Air Conditioning Mechanics, Industrial Mechanics, Millwrights, and Machinists – 10%
4.
Dually Trained – Positions that require both Health Care Aide (Certified) and Unit Clerk (Certified) Certificates (e.g., Nursing Assistant, Unit Assistant, Aide Clerk, etc.) – 5%
5.
Crisis Support Workers (applicable to the RHAs direct operations only) – Standardization of Wage Scales (everyone being placed at CSW3 Level)
6.
Painters, Locksmiths, and Flooring Applicators – 2%
7.
Preventive Maintenance Coordinators (applicable to Health Sciences Centre only) – 10%
8.
Health Information Management Professionals – 14%
9.
Biomedical/Clinical Engineering – Standardization of Wage Scales (most members will see an increase)
10.
Rehabilitation Assistants/Aides (Certified) – Addition of 6th Step and 5%
11.
Clinical Research Professionals (applicable to CancerCare Manitoba only) – 14%

With the exception of the HIMP’s, the payments will be retroactive to April 1, 2023, and will be paid within ninety (90) days. The HIMP’s will have retroactive pay to April 1, 2021, due to being part of a grievance resolution.
In order to receive the increase and retro pay, you must be employed on date of signing of this agreement (April 3, 2024). If you have changed jobs, the process to apply for your retro pay will soon be shared by the Employer. Otherwise, the money shall be paid automatically.

BARGAINING UPDATE #1

March 22, 2024

Your CUPE Bargaining Council and the health care employers represented by the Provincial Health Labour Relations Services (PHLRS) will begin bargaining and exchange proposals on April 4, 2024. Bargaining will occur weekly on Thursdays and Fridays.
How was your CUPE Bargaining Council formed?

Your Bargaining Council is made up of representatives from every local participating in central table negotiations: Local 204/Shared Health and Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Local 500/WRHA – Riverview Health Centre, Local 4270/ Southern Health-Santé Sud (SH-SS), Local 8600/Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA).

The bargaining survey closed on March 6, 2024. Thank you to everyone who offered their thoughts, experiences, and suggestions. The Bargaining Council met to review the survey results and finalize the proposal package. While the Bargaining Council is confident that this round of negotiations will take less time than the last one, we want to remind members that the bargaining process itself does take time, and we appreciate your patience and support as we work hard to achieve a fair deal for everyone. While the details of discussions are confidential during negotiations, we will provide updates on the status of bargaining throughout. Members will have the final vote on any proposed new contract.

Who is your Bargaining Council?
Your CUPE Bargaining Council is made up of front-line health care workers just like you.

Shared Health / L204
Margaret Schroeder, President, Clerical
Anne Rama, Housekeeping
Marlo Peters, Nursing Assistant
Collette Lafreniere Thompson, Nursing Assistant (A)
Belinda Raposo, HCA

WRHA / L500
Limson Mestito, President, Riverview, HCA

Southern Health-Santé Sud / L4270
Holly Chaperon, President, Supervisor
Cindy Terwin, Clerk
Karly Deneka, Home Care, Resource Coordinator

WRHA / L204
Tony Cianflone, Trades
Karen Brown, Acute, HCA
Jefferson De Villa, Home Care, HCA
Daniel Richards, Long Term Care, HCA (A)

Northern RHA / L8600
Christine Lussier, President, HCA
Ashley Krassilowski, Recreation
Marie Nixon, Admitting Clerk (FS)

What happens to the Market Adjustment and Pension/Benefits Committees?
The Market Adjustment/Wage Standardization (MAWS) and Pension/Benefit (PBSC) will continue to meet every week until their work is complete.

If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to healthcare@cupe.ca.

SMc/wkp/cope 491

CUPE Health Care Bargaining Update #22

HEALTH CARE BARGAINING UPDATE #22

No health care worker left behind

February 15, 2024

 

The Market Adjustment and Wage Standardization Committee (MAWS) continues to work on the market adjustments.  The MAWS have reached an agreement on three classifications. This includes standardizing the Health Care Aide classifications, both certified and uncertified, as well as the Home Support Worker classification.  The Committee continues to work on the remaining classifications on the MAWS agreed to list. The next batch that will be paid should include Prosthetic/Orthotic, Clinical Engineering, Trades and HIMP groups.

Included in this “batch” of standardization payments is:

  1. Home Care Attendant 1
  2. Home Care Attendant 2
  3. HCA at Donwood
  4. Home Support Workers

The payments will be retroactive to April 1, 2023, and will be paid within ninety (90) days.

In order to receive the increase and retro pay, you must be employed on date of signing of this agreement, which is January 26, 2024.  If you have changed jobs the process to apply for your retro pay will soon be shared by the Employer.  If you maintain your HCA1, HCA2, HCA at Donwood or HSW positions, you are not required to apply, the money will be paid automatically.

These are the wage scales these classifications will be placed on.

  1. Home Care Attendant 1:

        HCA Uncertified

Start 20 Year
$19.505 $19.896

 

  1. & 3. Home Care Attendant 2 and HCA at Donwood:

        HCA Certified

Start Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 20 Year
$20.090 $20.694 $21.314 $21.952 $22.612 $23.291 $23.990 $24.470

 

  1. Home Support Workers:
Start Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 20 Year
$17.068 $17.579 $18.106 $18.651 $19.210 $19.786 $20.180

 

SMc/wkp/cope 491

15-Feb-2024

CUPE Manitoba Online Store

October 6, 2023
TO: ALL AFFILIATED PRESIDENTS & RECORDING SECRETARIES
RE: CUPE MANITOBA ONLINE STORE

Sisters, Brothers, Friends,

Following the 2023 CUPE Manitoba Convention, and to mark CUPE-SCFP and CUPE Manitoba’s 60th Anniversary, we have worked with our local Union made-Union print shop (Hitek) to create an online store for members wishing to purchase CUPE Manitoba swag.
We are pleased to share the online store catalogue with you today and offer CUPE logo branded items in both French and English, as well as 60th anniversary logo branded items to mark our 60th year.

To view and order items, please click here: https://www.hitekpm.com/sr/2392998
The pricing for the online web store will be available until November 1st, 2023. Any questions regarding products and quantities can be directed to Hitek, as listed on the online store platform.

In Solidarity,
GINA McKAY
President
CUPE Manitoba
Cc: Lee McLeod, Regional Director; CUPE Manitoba Executive

Government Incentives

The incentives included are the following: 

 A one-time increase to the Health Spending Account (HSA) to everyone, including those who are still waiting patiently to be on the same benefits plan as the rest of the former facility members. 

$8.00/hour weekend premium that we have been waiting for since the nurses got it back in November 2022.  

And a licensure Reimbursement for those who have paid for their licensure for 2023-24 and the upcoming 2024-25 year.  You can only request one per year. Some of these licensures are 100s of dollars.    

These incentives are between the government and the employer, therefore if you have any questions please reach out to your manager.  

HEALTH SPENDING ACCOUNT (HSA) 

  •  A one-time, temporary increase to the employee’s HSA in the amount of $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees.  
  • This increase to your HSA is between the employer and Manitoba Blue Cross directly.  
  • The benefit is intended to provide additional coverage/reimbursement for healthcare-related expenses to each applicable employee.  
  • For eligible employees who remained actively employed as of August 1, 2023, the additional one-time, temporary increase of $500 for full-time employees and $250 for part-time employees, credits will be applied to their HSA account.   

Question you may have if: 

…You already have BlueCross coverage: and 

  • you have already logged into your blue cross account and  
  • have submitted your HSA requests for payment before?  

Great! You are good to go, this incentive will be automatically increased in your HSA to access when you have used your coverage.  Please just wait patiently for the number to be updated. If you have any issues or concerns talk with your manager 

…if you have the coverage but have never been explained how the HSA works? That’s ok, let’s go through it: 

  • Click on the mybluecross box at the top of the page.  
  • Sign up or Log in. 
  • Follow instructions on how to sign up if you are comfortable too. If not then please call blue cross for support. 1-888-596-1032 – the call centre is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am – 5:30pm 
  • Once logged in check out their site that is personalized just for you and/or your family if you have the extended benefits.  
  • On the left hand side of the page you will see HSA Request.  Click on it. 
  • Scroll down and select the claims for payment by clicking on the boxes. 
  • Once boxes are selected and if you agree to the terms of the request then you have one last box to click, REQUEST HSA PAYMENTS. 

 …if you do not have BlueCross: (Waiting for confirmation if the following process will be done the same way in the Southern Health Region. Holly has reached out to HR.  Just waiting for a reply.) 

  • Employees that do not have a current active HSA with Manitoba Blue Cross will need to complete an application form to have the account created.  
  • Application forms will be emailed to those employees that have been identified. If you have not received one and you know someone else has then please see your manager.  We do not have confirmation of a date that this will be done at this time.  
  • You will be able to submit claims effective back to Jan 1, 2023 calendar year once the funds are available in your HSA account.  

…If you are waiting patiently to get switched over to BlueCross and HEBP: 

We are not giving up and are pushing through to get it worked out… The process just takes time. We are still in discussions at the multi-union table.  

LICENSURE REIMBURSEMENT for those who have paid for their professional licensure OR the Professional association membership fees for 2023-24 and the upcoming 2024-25 year. 

These include the following fees:  

List of licensures and association membership fees  

(Waiting for confirmation if this is a list that can be made. Holly has reached out to HR.  Just waiting for a reply.) 

$8.00/HOUR WEEKEND PREMIUM 

  • All Healthcare workers will receive $8.00 is per hour, for hours worked on weekends. 
  • This premium is for everyone including the programs.  
  • This premium is above the current bargained weekend premium. 
  • The weekend incentive starts on Friday evening shift and will include all shifts until the end of the Sunday evening.  
  • The night shift that you may go into on Sunday at 11pm is considered the first shift of the next day and does not qualify for the premium.  
  • We were able to get retro** on this incentive, back to when the nurses got it, on November 18 2022. 
  • If you were on any unpaid LOA (Leave of Absences), Paid LOA, utilizing income protection, during down time, on vacation, or using banked hours, you do not qualify for the 8.00/hour during that time, or days as this is not considered time worked according to this incentive’s rules.   

**Menno home retro will be as follows – Nov 18th HCAs going forward. 

Feb 16, 2023 (point of certification date) for all other departments going forward.  

Any questions about these incentives need to be brought to your manager first.  

Any specifics of Manitoba BlueCross: 

 …If you have read this…  

The Local Representatives and Executives would like to thank you, for all that you do each and every shift.   

Support workers are the foundation of Health Care