Manitoba health care representation votes conclude: CUPE wins vote in WRHA, Shared Health Community Support, Facility Support

Union representation votes triggered by the provincial government’s Health Sector Bargaining Unit Review Act (HSBURA) resulted in significant change for health care workers in Manitoba.

CUPE is proud that health care workers in WRHA Community Support and Facility Support and Shared Health Community and Facility votes, including Home Care workers, chose CUPE to lead them into bargaining.

CUPE represented approximately 3,400 members in the WRHA prior to the votes. Following the updated certificate being issued CUPE will now represent approximately 10,500 members, across all Winnipeg hospitals, personal care homes, community clinics, and home care.

CUPE represented approximately 3,000 members in Shared Health prior to the votes. Following the updated certificate being issued CUPE will now represent approximately 3,500 members.

“CUPE is ready to fight for our members at the bargaining table, and represent them in the workplace,” said Debbie Boissonneault, CUPE Local 204 President. “With the representation votes concluded, CUPE is turning our efforts to welcoming our new members to CUPE, and getting to the bargaining table for everyone”.

The voting period ran from August 8th to August 22nd. The results were released by Robert Pruden, the Commissioner appointed by the provincial government to implement and oversee the votes.

CUPE congratulates the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals and Manitoba Nurses Union, who will be representing former CUPE members in Professional Technical and Nursing categories. We wish our former members well, and will miss them dearly but we look forward to working in solidarity with MAHCP and MNU, and helping them transition into their new unions.

CUPE thanks all participating unions, including the MGEU, MNU, MAHCP, PSAC, OEM 987, UFCW 832 and others, and is committed to working together to fight back against health care cuts and privatization, as well as any attempts made by the government to undermine workers’ rights in Manitoba.

CUPE now represents over 35,000 workers in Manitoba, becoming Manitoba’s largest union.