Dear Local 4270 members,
Committed to care, ready to strike.
CUPE is preparing to call on all health care support staff for a strike. You will be receiving a ballot in the mail shortly to vote for a strike. Please check your mail and return the ballot as soon as possible. The deadline is August 23, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
No health care worker left behind.
If there is one thing the pandemic has shown Manitobans, it’s that every health care worker is critical – not just doctors and nurses.
This is why CUPE is fighting for all health care support workers at the bargaining table – we won’t leave anyone behind, even if it means we have to call for a strike vote.
Who does the government want to leave behind?
• The government agreed to give nurses special options at the bargaining table, including the choice to have their contract settled by an arbitrator if negotiations break down, rather than forcing a strike. They refuse to give health care support staff this option.
• The government wants to split up our seniority lists, which means health care support staff could lose some seniority rights if they choose to switch health care jobs.
• The government doesn’t want to negotiate fair vacation language for support staff, even though you have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic.
• The government refuses to lift up home care workers and give them the respect and support they deserve.
• The government doesn’t want to talk about wages or benefits for support staff, even though you have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
• Support staff have gone four years without a contract and are tired of playing this government’s delay games. Enough is enough.
We want all health care support staff to have each other’s backs.
We can’t leave any health care worker worse off than before.
What does a strike vote mean?
A strike vote doesn’t mean you go on strike. It means you support your CUPE bargaining team to call a strike if negotiations break down.
We need to show the government that health care workers are united, and we won’t back down until we get a fair deal for everyone.
When will the strike vote happen?
The strike vote will be by mail-in ballot. As soon as you get your ballot please fill it in and return it. The voting will close on August 23, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. Please update your contact info right away, including your personal email address and cell phone numbers.
Why is this happening now?
The government has dragged its feet through this entire process, and we’ve had enough.
You deserve better.
The government is also planning to pass a law (Bill 16) in the fall that would make strikes last longer, and new contracts harder to achieve.
Right now, after 60 days of a strike we can ask an arbitrator (like a judge) to step in and help settle a contract. But once Bill 16 passes, it will be harder to get an arbitrator to step in, making strikes last longer.
We need to be ready. That is why we are asking you to vote to authorize a strike mandate (vote).
What do we need from you?
Your personal email and cell phone so we can let you know more details and contact you.
Most importantly, WE NEED YOU TO VOTE. The more health care support workers who vote, the stronger we will be at the bargaining table. That means you.
If you have any questions, please email healthcare@cupe.ca.