We have 3 days of voting, September 20th, 21st, 22^nd, 2022. We have been collecting a lot of contact information from the membership. With all of the contacts that we did receive, we also heard our members feedback.  A challenge we were faced with was having some members without an email address and/or computer skills. We want everyone to have fair opportunity. It wasn’t hard to see that an electronic vote would not work for our local for this vote. A couple avenues were looked into and an in-person vote was the more practical option to allow the best opportunity for the entire membership at this time for our local.  Below you will find  highlighted Facilities as those are the facilities to attend to vote and those facilities/areas listed below will be able to attend that facility only to vote.  If your area/site is not listed and are unsure where to vote please contact your site/area rep for clarification.  

 

In Person voting plan for Ratification on Contract 2022 SEPT 20-22 from 1-7pm at each site or until needed.

 

Altona – @ Health Centre 

-Community health Centre

-Home care

-Public health

 

Boundary Trails @ Health Centre 

-Boundary trails health Centre

-Home care –Winkler

-Public health – Morden, boundary trails place

-Mental health – Pathways

-Tabor Home

 

Carman @ Boyne 

-Carman Hosp

-Boyne Lodge

-Home care

-Public health

 

Emerson @ Health Centre 

-Health Centre

 

Gladstone @ Third Crossing Manor 

-Gladstone Hosp

-Third Crossing Manor

-Home care

-Public health

 

Grunthal @ Menno Home 

-Meno Home – PCH

 

MacGregor @Health Centre 

-Health Centre

-Home Care

-Public Health

 

Manitou @ Health Centre 

-Health Centre

-Home care

 

Morris @ Red River Valley Lodge 

-RRVL

-Morris Hosp

-Home care

-St. Jean area

-Morris area

-Public Health

-Morris area

-St. Jean area

-La Salle area

-Rosenort area

 

Notre Dame @ Foyer 

-Foyer

-Health Centre

-Hosp

-Home care – Notre Dame area

-Public Health – Somerset Office

 

Portage La Prairie @ DCL 

-LPM

-DCL

-PGH

-Home care – Portage area

-Primary Care – Southport office

-Public Health

-Portage

-Southport offices

-Elie Office

-RAAM Clinic

 

Rock Lake @ Pilot Mound PCH  

-Health Centre

-PCH, Lodge

-Home care

-Crystal City

-Public Health

-Pilot mound

 

St. Claude @ Health Centre 

-PCH, Health Centre

-Home care – St. Claude

-Public Health

 

Ste. Anne @Villa You-Ville

-Villa

-Ste. Anne Hospital

-Home care

-Public Health

 

St. Pierre @ Desalaberry Health Centre 

-Clinic

-PCH

-Home care

-Niverville area

-Public Health

-St. Pierre office

-Niverville office

 

Steinbach @Bethesda Place 

-Hosp

-PCH

-Home care

-Steinbach

-Public Health

-Steinbach x2 offices

-Primary Health

-Steinbach x2 offices

-Mental Health

-Steinbach

-La Broquerie Office

-Crisis Unit

 

Swan Lake @ LMH 

-Hospital

 

Sprague  @East Border land Primary Care Centre 

-Home care – Sprague

-Primary Health – Sprague

 

Vita – @ PCH Vita + District 

-Home Care – Vita

-Public Health – Vita

 

HEALTH CARE RATIFICATION INFO SESSIONS

CUPE reached a tentative agreement on August 29, 2022.  CUPE will be hosting Info Sessions both in person and virtually via Zoom (see links below).  Members can attend any of the virtual or in-person** meetings, you do not have to attend the ones specific to your Local.  The information is the same for everyone.  A video presentation will be available on the Locals’ websites or through your Local Executives starting Sept. 7, 2022.

**Note:  Due to capacity limits, if the meeting is in a specific Employer facility you must be staff at that facility.  Meetings at hotels and conference rooms are open to all members.

 

VIRTUAL INFO SESSIONS

DATE	TIME	ZOOM MEETING LINK
Thurs., Sept. 8th	6 pm to 8 pm	https://cupe-ca.zoom.us/j/86558261119?pwd=eU1ZWERXcE53VmJabWptaDZsazcyZz09
Sun., Sept. 11th	6 pm to 8 pm	https://cupe-ca.zoom.us/j/86960066020?pwd=NFhibTFIY090QllxR2hhMFdTd3dHZz09
Wed., Sept. 14th	6 pm to 8 pm	https://cupe-ca.zoom.us/j/86773423003?pwd=dlA2SGxBazZYQ2RrM2d4QlRoQ3lXZz09

 

IN-PERSON INFO SESSIONS

LOCAL 204	DATE	TIME	PLACE
	Wed., Sept. 7th	10 am to 7 pm	Canad Inns Transcona (Ambassador A/B) 826 Regent Avenue West, Winnipeg
	Thurs., Sept. 8th	10 am to 7 pm	Canad Inns HSC (Ambassador A) 720 William Avenue, Winnipeg
	Sat., Sept. 10th	10 am to 7 pm	Canad Inns Polo Park (Ambassador 2) 1405 St. Matthews Avenue, Winnipeg
	Tues., Sept. 13th	10 am to 7 pm	St. Boniface Hospital (N-1012 Boardroom) 409 Taché Avenue, Winnipeg

 

LOCAL 500	DATE	TIME	PLACE
	Wed., Sept. 14th	10 am to 4 pm	Riverview Health Centre (Classroom E/F) 1 Morley Avenue, Winnipeg

 

LOCAL 4270	DATE	TIME	PLACE
	Mon., Sept. 12th	4 pm to 7 pm	Canada Inns Portage la Prairie (Ambassador A) 2401 Saskatchewan Avenue West, Portage la Prairie
	Friday, Sept. 16th	9 am to 12 pm	A.D. Penner Park (outdoors) Park Road East, Steinbach

 

LOCAL 8600	DATE	TIME	PLACE
	Thurs., Sept. 8th	9 am to 1 pm   4 pm to 6 pm	Thompson General Hospital (room TBD) 871 Thompson Drive South, Thompson Northern Spirit Manor 879 Thompson Drive, Thompson
	Sun., Sept. 11th	11 am to 4 pm	St. Anthony’s General Hospital 67 1st Street West, The Pas
	Friday, Sept. 16th	9 am to 1 pm   4 pm to 6 pm	Flin Flon General Hospital (Boardroom) 3rd Avenue & Church Street, Flin Flon Northern Lights Manor 274 Bracken Street, Flin Flon

The ratification votes will be done electronically and will take place September 20^th, 21^st & 22^nd.

Details will follow in the next week.

HEALTH CARE BARGAINING UPDATE #19

No health care worker left behind

August 5, 2022

CUPE continues to negotiate your collective agreement with the goal of leaving no health care worker behind.

Your negotiating team continues to meet with the mediator, Arne Peltz, including on July 28^th and 29^th as well as August 3^rd and 4^th in the evenings.  Mediation will continue August 10^th, 29^th and 30^th.  We will most likely get additional dates between August 10^th and the 29th.

On August 3^rd, CUPE tabled all our remaining proposals.  The Employer is working on a comprehensive response for next week.  We are seeing some movement at the bargaining table on our issues, so we are working hard to continue fighting for improvements to the collective agreement.

We have made great progress on more monetary proposals such as shift premiums, shoe allowance, and uniforms, as well as numerous letters of understanding.

Outstanding issues are vacation, training and education, how STAT days will be taken, sick time for pick-up shifts, and letters of understanding around hours of work.  There are a few monetary items still outstanding as well, such as northern isolation/retention allowance, benefits/pensions for community groups, responsibility pay, and wages.  The remaining language proposals are important and will affect your day-to-day job, so we are fighting for these improvements.

CUPE has also requested market adjustments for several classifications.  A market adjustment is adjusting the salary scale to match other similar jobs in the province.  Most often the need for an adjustment comes from not being able to hire and retain employees.  CUPE and the MGEU are discussing forming a multi-union table to discuss the market adjustments with the Employer.

MGEU has reached a tentative agreement in Prairie Mountain and the Interlake regions.  The reason they reached an agreement before our table is because they simply did not have as many collective agreements to merge.  With so many groups in CUPE we want to make sure none of them are left behind. That is why our table is taking longer.  The Bargaining Council is fighting very hard to get a good collective agreement that addresses all members concerns including the general wage increase.

Please make sure we have your most recent contact information, including cell phone number and personal email.  We do not use work contact information to reach you for union business.

STRIKE FACT SHEET

June29, 2022

Are we going to strike?
Your Bargaining Council was hopeful that mediation would lead to a fair agreement, but progress has nearly ground to a halt. There are still mediation dates booked at the end of July and August, but a strike is increasingly possible. CUPE health care support workers across Manitoba voted 97% in favour of a strike mandate last summer. CUPE will keep members up to date if there is any change. No strike has been called at this time.

How much is strike pay?
Strike pay starts on the first day of a strike. For the first eight (8) weeks of a strike, you get $300/week for a minimum of 20 hours of picket duties. During the 8^th to 12^th week, you get $350/week. From the 12^th to the 16^th week, you get $375/week. From the 16^thweek of the strike, you get $400/week.

What do I have to do to get strike pay?
You must perform picket duties. Which means you must walk a picket line for 4 hours/day for 5 days a week.
If you are not physically able to walk a picket line, there are other duties that can be done. You would need to contact the Strike Coordinator of your local if you require an accommodation. The accommodation must be verified that it is for medical reasons. The Strike Coordinator for each local will be shared when we serve notice to go on strike.

Where will the picket lines be?
In a strike, there will be a limited number of picket locations with a focus on larger sites with a lot of public visibility. The Union will provide picket location information to all members if there is a strike. Most members will not be picketing at their own job site.

What about my benefits?
CUPE pays for the premiums of your group life and extended health benefits for the duration of the strike. If you work essential services shifts you will be paid by the Employer just like normal. Therefore, your benefit premiums would be deducted, and coverage will continue. The pension plan deductions will NOT be paid by CUPE.

What if I am on a leave of absence for medical or other reasons?
If the third-party insurer [HEB Manitoba, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), Workers Compensation (WCB),
City of Winnipeg, etc.] cuts you off because of the strike, CUPE will provide you with strike pay in lieu. Please contact your Strike Coordinator once a strike is declared if you are on LTD, WCB, MPI, etc.

What if I have to work an essential services shift?
Essential services shifts will be shared amongst members qualified to work in that area. If you do work a shift, you will get paid normally from the Employer. You may also get deemed as a standby in the event of a sick call or emergency on your unit or department. If you are deemed standby, you must bring your work attire with you to the picket line in case you get called into work.

What if I have vacation booked during a strike?
Vacations are usually cancelled by the Employer if we go on strike.

What happens with parking at picket locations?
The Union does not cover parking costs. We will attempt to share free/low-cost parking near picket locations. We also encourage members to ride share when possible.

What about my financial obligations like mortgage, rent, credit cards, car payment, loans, child support, etc.?
In past bargaining bulletins, CUPE has recommended members not take on new financial obligations during bargaining because of the possibility of a strike and reduced incomes. CUPE has a form letter that you will be able to send to financial institutions and creditors, notifying them of a strike and requesting adjusted payment conditions be arranged with you. Most financial institutions will help you put together a plan to deal with your situation in the event of a strike which may include allowing you to reduce payments, paying interest only charges, etc.  Should we serve notice to strike, we highly recommend contacting your financial institution/credit cards, etc, right away to discuss a plan.

Am I eligible for Employment Insurance while on strike?
No.

Am I allowed to bring my children/pet(s) with me to the picket line?
Family members and service animals are permitted on the picket line.

Is it still possible to go to binding arbitration if we go on strike?
Yes, after 60 days of being on legal strike either the Union or the Employers can apply to go to binding arbitration.

Do members still get to vote on the contract if we go to binding arbitration?
No. The arbitrator’s decision is binding on both the employer and the union. There will be no opportunity for members to vote on an arbitrator’s decision.

Do members vote again to go on strike?
No. The strike vote already happened and gave a mandate to the Bargaining Council of 97% provincially. There is not a second vote to strike.

What are the consequences of not participating in strike activity (picketing duty)?
We are only as strong as our solidarity as union members. Our strength is in numbers. The picket line is how we show our solidarity and our commitment to being treated with respect. Members must do picket duty to receive strike pay.

HEALTH CARE BARGAINING UPDATE #18

No health care worker left behind

June 28,2022

CUPE met with the mediator, Mr. Arne Peltz, on June 20^th, 21^st, 22^nd and 23^rd.  Mediation will continue July 28^th and 29^th and August 29^th and 30^th.

The parties were able to resolve, with the assistance of the mediator, the outstanding proposals around seniority and bumping.

CUPE continued to meet with the Provincial Health Labour Relations Services (PHLRS) to finalize negotiation of the Letters of Understanding and any changes to the pension and benefits articles on June 8^th and 15th.We were able to resolve many of the benefits articles including the pre retirement leave.  Only a few remain outstanding.  The Letters of Understandings have been referred to the mediator.

The language that remains before the mediator is about vacation (single days vs. blocks), union representation at meetings, how STAT days will be taken, sick time on pick-up shifts, training and education funding, uniforms/safety shoes monetary matters including shift premiums.

Rumors continue to circulate.  Specific details about what monetary items have been agreed to have not been shared.  So anything you may hear about that is not true.  We cannot share specific details yet because there is the possibility things may change before we are done bargaining.  Until the members vote on the collective agreement or a collective agreement is awarded through an arbitrator at binding arbitration, nothing is fully agreed to.

There is a petition being circulated regarding mileage rates.  Please take the time to fill out the petition.  The last petition was extremely successful and we hope this one will help add pressure to the government.  https://cupe.ca/manitoba-must-raise-mileage-rates-home-care-and-health-care-staff

We have updated the Strike Question and Answer sheets which will be shared at your sites as well as electronically.

Please make sure we have your most recent contact information, including cell phone number and personal email.  We do not use work contact information to reach you for union business.

Please copy this link and past into your browser to find the petition.

https://cupe.ca/manitoba-must-raise-mileage-rates-home-care-and-health-care-staff

HEALTH CARE BARGAINING UPDATE #17

No health care worker left behind

June 1, 2022

 

CUPE met with the mediator, Mr. Arne Peltz, on May 24^th, 25^th, 26^th, and 27^th.  An additional day for mediation was added on June 1^st.  Mediation will continue June 20 – 23, 2022.

CUPE continued to meet with the Provincial Health Labour Relations Services (PHLRS) to finalize negotiation of the Letters of Understanding and any changes to the pension and benefits articles on May 4^th, 11^th, and 18^th.  These discussions include home care/community programs being “brought up” to the same level as the rest of the health care support sector.  The next regular bargaining dates are June 8^th and 15^th.

The first week of mediation was successful.  We were able to agree to more contract language provisions and some monetary items including some language on overtime and pick-up shifts/additional hours, overtime banks, standby/callback language, sick time (income protection), mileage/transportation allowance and salary increments for casual employees.

The first few days of mediation were spent explaining our positions and proposals to the mediator. CUPE highlighted our priorities that were left on the table which included overtime, pick-up shifts, vacation, pensions and benefits for everyone, seniority, job security and improvements for home care workers as noted above.  The Bargaining Council spent long days working very hard to resolve the language and monetary proposals we tabled.

The mediation process can be slow.  It takes longer for each side to explain their position to the mediator.  The mediator then goes back and forth sharing his thoughts and the other side’s issues.  CUPE and the PHLRS do not communicate directly with each other during the mediation process, but rather through Mr. Peltz.

The outstanding language is about vacation (single days vs. blocks), union representation at meetings, how STAT days will be taken, seniority for job vacancies, sick time on pick-up shifts, training and education funding, uniforms/safety shoes, bumping, benefits and monetary matters including shift premiums.

Please make sure we have your most recent contact information, including cell phone number and personal email.  We do not use work contact information to reach you for union business.