WINNIPEG – Midwives are gathering together to hold an info picket on Thursday, February 4th outside the Birth Centre on St. Mary’s Road, in an effort to raise awareness about the state of midwifery in Manitoba.
“We applaud the government for increasing funding for midwifery training, but we are falling behind other provinces when it comes to compensation” said Sheree Capar, CUPE National Representative. “We need to deal with recruitment and retention issues, and the best way to do that is to have competitive compensation so we don’t lose our midwives to other provinces or professions”.
CUPE 2348, representing approximately 30 midwives working in the WRHA, has held numerous meetings with a provincial conciliation officer in an attempt to reach a fair deal with their employer.
On January 13th and 14th, midwives voted 91% in favour of a strike mandate.
Info pickets will take place on Thursday, February 4th from 7 to 9 a.m. outside the Birth Centre at 603 St. Mary’s Road.
“We want to give the employer one last push to deliver a fair contract for Manitoba’s midwives,” said Capar.
The current collective agreement expired on March 31, 2014.
CUPE Local 2348 represents approximately 30 midwives working in the WRHA.
For more information on the state of midwifery in Manitoba, check out our 2014 infographic!