ATTENTION….Have you missed work due to COVID 19?

CUPE 4270 is a part of a policy grievance, regarding the financial impact of COVID 19 with having to self isolate or quarantine in the situation where the Employer has put you off work, and you have had to either utilize your Income Protection or go unpaid in cases where Income Protection credits were not available in your banks or unable to qualify for CERB.

If this above statement describes a situation that you have had to go through please provide your name, contact information, Facility or Program, dates you were affected to the CUPE Local 4270 Recording Secretary, Natasha Ross at natasha28@shaw.ca.

CUPE 4270 Honours Jack Rodie

On behalf of CUPE Local 4270, we would like to send our condolences to the family of Jack Rodie.

Jack Rodie was President of CUPE Manitoba from 1965 – 1981, and his legacy has helped pave the way for many of our accomplishments today.

Jack was a great Unionist that personally inspired me. I hold being awarded the Jack Rodie award as my greatest Union Memory. I enjoyed our visits at Convention and learned that you can be a kind and compassionate person while still being able to fight for the rights of the membership. Jack will be greatly missed.
– Darrin Cook, CUPE 4270 President

Court ruling finds Pallister’s wage freeze bill unconstitutional

Manitoba’s largest public sector union applauds Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench Justice McKelvey’s ruling that the Public Services Sustainability Act (PSSA) is unconstitutional.

CUPE and other unions through the Manitoba Federation of Labour’s Partnership to Defend Public Services brought Pallister’s government to court, and won.

“Brian Pallister has been pushing ideological cuts to public services, and attempted to do so by violating our constitutional right to bargain collective agreements,” said Abe Araya, President of CUPE Manitoba. “Pallister lost in court today, but the fight against his austerity agenda isn’t over”.

CUPE provided testimony during the proceedings.

Now that the PSSA has been proven unconstitutional in court, CUPE intends to move swiftly to get to the bargaining table with the intent to negotiate fair deals for the thousands of Manitoba workers, including in health care, education, crown corporations, child care, social services, and more who have been without a contract for over four years.

“Manitoba’s public sector workforce has been on the front-lines fighting COVID-19, and now we are asking Manitobans to support us as we get back to the negotiating table” says Araya.

“CUPE has very straight forward demands: we want a fair deal for workers. But Pallister has made it clear that he is willing to violate constitutional rights to push workers down and that’s something we, and the courts, won’t accept”.

CUPE Manitoba extends our deepest gratitude to the work of the Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck, as well as the hard working staff at the MFL for the countless hours of work put into this fight.

We also extend our congratulations and thanks to all the other members of the PPDS which include unions from across the province for working together through challenging times.

This was won by Manitoba’s labour movement, working together.

Message from Darrin Cook, President CUPE 4270

To all CUPE Local 4270 members.

You are the front-line heroes, fighting COVID-19 in our community, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

To all the Homecare workers, the Health Care Aides, Laundry workers, Housekeeping workers, Recreation workers, Maintenance and Engineer Staff, Clerical Workers, Health Information, Mental Health Workers, Dietary Aides, Cooks, Porters, Receptionists, Material Management, Material Device Reprocessing and Ward Clerks. Thank you.

Thank you for all that you do for your clients and patients. Thank you for looking after your communities.

You go into a work area that most are staying home to avoid. You are caring for us, while potentially putting yourself and your families at risk. We know you would like to be safe at home but we know you care about others and know the importance of each of your jobs at a time like this.

Many are thanking the Doctors and Nurses. We too wish to thank them, but please know when people thank a Nurse, they do mean all of the Healthcare Team.

Rest assured that your CUPE 4270 team is doing everything possible to protect our members. Do not hesitate to contact any of us. We are here with you, for you.

Thank you, your all awesome.

Darrin Cook
CUPE 4270

COVID-19 Q&A for Health Care Workers

COVID-19 Q&A for Health Care Workers

The COVID-19 pandemic changes every day.
Here are some basic Q&As for CUPE health care workers.

*as of March 20, 2020


Q. Do I have to work still
A. Yes, if you are healthy, able and have not been told to self-isolate/self-quarantine please report to work as normal. Unless the Employer informs you otherwise.

Q. Do I have to self-isolate or self-quarantine?
A. Please go to this link: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/index.html


Q. What if I am deemed essential?
A. You will attend work as always and follow any protocols put in place by the Employer. Including wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

Q. What if I am not deemed “essential”?
A. We are waiting for the Employer to determine if they will be sending non-essential staff home and what that will look like. We are not clear on how the Employer is determining who is essential yet. Questions we do not have answered yet are:  Will you get paid?  Will you have to work from home?

Q. Does the Employer have to provide personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks?
A. Yes, the Employer must provide required PPE. CUPE has dealt with sites that have failed to do so.   If this equipment is not available, please advise your CUPE rep.

Q. What if the client/patient has tested positive or is displaying symptoms?
A. Follow the universal precaution guidelines. Wear gloves and mask.  Wash your hands when you enter and leave their residence/room.  Do not touch the doorknobs or surfaces as much as possible.

Q. What if my co-worker may have been exposed?
A. Maintain social distancing as much as possible. Cleaning protocols should have been increased.  Follow the universal precaution guidelines.  Do not touch the doorknobs or surfaces as much as possible.

Q. If I have to self-isolate or self-quarantine how will I get paid?
A. You can use sick time first. Then you can use your vacation, overtime (OT), STAT banks to cover your time away.  If you do not have any of those available, you can take an unpaid Leave of Absence (LOA) and apply for Employment Insurance (EI).  If you do take an unpaid LOA, you will need to prepay your benefits if you wish to continue coverage.  CUPE is working on having this time covered by the Employer directly and not come from your banks.

Q. What if I have to be away from work because of child care issues?
A. You can use your vacation, OT, STAT banks to cover your time away. If you do not have any of those available, you can take an unpaid LOA and apply for EI.  If you do take an unpaid LOA you will need to prepay your benefits if you wish to continue coverage.  CUPE is working on having this time covered by the Employer directly and not come from your banks.  If you are deemed essential and require child care there is a form to fill out from the Employer.

The federal government has announced assistance for employees who require income assistance.  Introducing the Emergency Care Benefit providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks.  This flat-payment benefit would be administered through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and provide income support to:  “Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school or daycare closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for EI or not.”

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html

Q. Can I be mandated to work?
A. In this COVID 19 crisis you can be mandated to work if staffing levels are affected because of
COVID-19. The Employer must take into account child care, elder care, etc.  They cannot mandate you to work if it is not COVID-19 related.

Q. Can I be transferred to other site?
A. In this COVID 19 crisis you can be asked to voluntarily work at other sites. You would be covered by your current collective agreement, continue to accrue seniority at your site, be covered by benefits and Workers Compensation (WCB) and be reimbursed for parking, mileage and receive a meal allowance.  There is also some financial compensation if you are reassigned to another site.  If no one volunteers or staffing levels get dangerously low at a site, you can be assigned to work at another site.
See link:  “MOA_Redeploymnet_of_Staff_COVID-19”

Q. What if Winnipeg Transit stops running?
A. If you use the bus to get to work and services are stopped, talk to your manager/supervisor about what to do.

OTHER RESOURCES

Federal Income Supports :  https://cupe.ca/cupe-backgrounder-federal-income-support-announcements

SMc:cbc/cope 491
20-Mar-20
1:44 pm

COVID-19 Update, March 17

CUPE is working to ensure the rights and the health & safety of all members are being protected

As the pandemic continues, health authorities may require staff mobility and redeployment. As health care workers, and as a union, our goal is to ensure the community’s safety in difficult times. To that end, CUPE has entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) regarding redeployment of staff within or between Employers should it become necessary during this crisis.

This MOA was negotiated with all the health care unions. The MOA ensures members’ rights are protected under each collective agreement and provides for financial compensation in the event of a temporary transfer. Attached is a copy of the draft MOA (in the process of being signed off).

The MOA allows for mileage, meals and accommodation to be covered if required. The Employers will be seeking volunteers first to temporarily transfer to another site. This MOA is in effect and will continue if a state of emergency is declared.

The risk of COVID-19 remains low. Members are encouraged to follow the directives provided by their Employers. Most importantly continue to follow universal precautions and take extra care in washing your hands.

CUPE staff representatives are working throughout this crisis to ensure members’ rights are protected. It is our job to fight for you while you fight for Manitoba patients.

If you feel that your health is put at risk, or if you feel you are being treated unfairly at work, contact CUPE right away. As always, CUPE Is here with you, and for you.

Thank you to all the frontline health care workers who continue to provide care to Manitoba’s most vulnerable citizens. CUPE is available to assist members during this stressful time.

Shannon McAteer

CUPE Health Care Coordinator

& Your CUPE Health Care Team