For more information visit phcc.cupe.ca
Health Care
News and updates about our health care members.
Better Choice: let’s start talking about the Federal election
The country’s slow economic recovery has left 2.8 million Canadians unemployed or underemployed. Nearly three quarters of the jobs created in the past six years have been precarious (part-time, temporary or in the self-employed sector). With limited job prospects, household debt is at an all-time high.
Soon, you will get to choose how we overcome these challenges.
There is a better choice. One that gets us ready to support and care for our aging population. One that gives Canadians high-quality, secure jobs instead of short-term, temporary positions. One that provides programs that benefit everyone—instead of tax relief programs that benefit a select few.
We believe there is a better choice for you and the economy.
What will you choose?
Visit the campaign betterchoice.ca to learn more!
Manitoba budget supports health care. What it means for CUPE members
The Manitoba Government’s 2015 provincial budget was released on April 30th.
Throughout this week we will be featuring a number of key CUPE sectors and how the budget affects members within that sector.
What is the provincial budget?
The provincial budget is the implementation of the government’s vision for the next year, as well as commitments to long-term and short-term investments.
Being part of a national union, CUPE members in Manitoba know that the cuts made in other provinces are not happening here. The Manitoba NDP has committed to supporting the services that Manitobans rely on.
CUPE members work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and community clinics across Manitoba.
But what does the 2015 provincial budget mean to CUPE members in Manitoba?
The Manitoba budget commits to ensuring that there are no cuts to front-line health services that Manitobans rely on. Other jurisdictions like Saskatchewan are privatizing some health care services, and places like Alberta are cutting funding outright..
“While some have called for reckless cuts to front-line services and a halt to building of critical infrastructure, we have chosen a different path” said Finance Minister Greg Dewar.
CUPE Manitoba is pleased that the province continues to push the Federal government to restore funding to the Health Accord – a national campaign of CUPE and the Council of Canadians.
The budget documents recognize that “due to another unilateral decision, the federal government’s contribution to health care in Canada will be reduced by about $26 million … it will come at the expense of provinces and territories”.
In 2014 CUPE health care members rallied outside the offices of conservative MPs in Winnipeg calling on the restoration of this funding.
While there is still work to do to fight for better wages and a stronger health care system, the Manitoba budget is building on – rather than eroding – health care in the province.
Long Term Care
The government is increasing funding to Long-Term Care services by 10.7%, or $62.3 million in new funding. A significant increase to help improve long term care in the province. However CUPE will continue to work with the government to ensure that this funding goes towards improved staffing. CUPE Manitoba and the Private Personal Care Home Committee (PPCH) recently met with the Minister of Health to discuss concerns around staffing.
CUPE will continue to work with the provincial government to end the practice of “working short” in long term care facilities, particularly privately operated personal care homes.
Stay tuned for “Manitoba budget supports childcare and social services. What it means for CUPE members”
Provincial budget reflects needs of Manitobans, invests in services.
The Manitoba Government’s 2015 provincial budget was released on April 30th, and reflects the NDP’s commitment to working families across the province.
“Our NDP government is a strong steward of the economy” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba. “Manitobans want government to invest in core services and infrastructure, and that is exactly what this government is doing”.
The provincial budget is the implementation of the government’s vision for the next year, as well as commitments to long-term and short-term investments.
“Being part of a national union, CUPE members in Manitoba know that other governments have recently implemented deep cuts to government services which particularly impact society’s most vulnerable people” said Moist. “The Manitoba NDP has committed to supporting the services that Manitobans rely on”.
Of particular note are the unprecedented investments in infrastructure that will create jobs, stimulate the economy, raise wages across the province, improve road safety, protect Manitobans against floods, and improve other aspects of our provincial infrastructure.
The budget announced continued investments in childcare spaces in Manitoba, significant funding increases for acute health care and long-term care, as well as increased funding to education and post-secondary education.
The province made good on a commitment to eliminate interest on Manitoba student loans, making post-secondary education more accessible, and once again increases the minimum wage.
Additionally, the province has acted on recommendations from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ “View from Here”, endorsed by CUPE Manitoba, enhancing Rent Assist by $22 million to move it to 75% of median market rent.
“We are pleased that this government chooses to invest in the community, from infrastructure to childcare” said Moist. “This government understands the value of a diverse economy that supports families as well as economic growth”.
CUPE Manitoba represents approximately 25,000 public sector workers in health care, municipalities, school divisions, energy, airlines, social services and childcare, post-secondary education, and more.
Health Care Bargaining
CUPE Manitoba’s Provincial Health Care Council is currently in bargaining, and are awaiting a ruling from an interest arbitration for a new collective agreement.
Please visit the CUPE Manitoba Provincial Health Care Council website for news and updates on the bargaining process.
Federal budget rewards the rich but fails every day Canadians
via CUPE.ca
Ottawa, ON – The Conservative’s 2015 federal budget may balance the books, but it is highly unbalanced in its impact on Canadians. It puts millions of seniors at risk of poverty, abandons families in need of affordable child care and quality public health care, and doesn’t help Canadians workers who need better jobs, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
“The Conservatives have chosen irresponsible economic policies that slash revenues to benefit a few corporations and the wealthy,” says Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, Canada’s largest union. “This budget does far more harm than good in addressing the gap between workers and the richest Canadians. With this budget, that gap will only continue to grow.”
Maintaining unreasonably low corporate taxes, income splitting, tax credits for wealthy families like the expanded TFSA’s provide no help for every day Canadians. These measures recklessly slash federal revenues that will mean more cuts to public services that Canadians depend on.
“Expanding TFSA does almost nothing to help the over 11 million Canadians without a work place pension. Instead of expanding the Canada Pension Plan – widely seen as the most effective, efficient and affordable way to keep seniors out of poverty – the Conservatives only offer another tax shelter for the rich,” says Moist. “The lost revenues from expanding TFSA’s – at least $1 billion over the next five years – will only mean more pressure on OAS/GIS. This budget is an unqualified failure for the vast majority of Canadian seniors.”
Canadian families struggling to find affordable child care are also left without any help.
“Families are spending more on child care than on housing – up to $2000 a month. This means the tax credit being offered up by Conservatives will barely cover one month. And that will be for only handful of families; most won’t get a dime,” says Moist.
The Conservatives lack of leadership on child care is even more pronounced in health care. Despite long waiting lists, five million Canadians without a family doctor, and skyrocketing prescription drug prices, the 2015 federal budget confirms Conservatives are cutting more than $36 billion from health care.
“We need strong federal leadership to strengthen our public health care system,” says Moist. “Our public health care is coming apart at the seams, and Conservatives simply shrug their shoulders hoping someone else will take care of it.”
CUPE is urging the Official Opposition to move budget amendments that will help create quality jobs, make urgent investments in public health care and child care, expand the CPP, and introduce measures that protect valued public services.
“This budget is clearly taking our country in the wrong direction. It fails workers, families, seniors, students, Indigenous peoples and the environment,” says Moist. “The only bright side is that with our pending federal election, this will be the Conservatives last budget. Next budget, we’ll be able to start repairing the damage done. It’s time for a change.”
CUPE’s complete analysis of the 2015 federal budget will be available on cupe.ca.
For more information:
Greg Taylor
CUPE Media Relations
613 818-0067
gtaylor@cupe.ca
CUPE Manitoba Solidarity Sector Conference an Overwhelming Success!
Over 140 CUPE members from across the province met in Brandon from November 26 – 29 at the CUPE Manitoba Solidarity Sector Conference.
At this conference members from Healthcare, Social Services, Municipalities, Long-term Care, and School Divisions met to discuss issues facing their sectors.
Additionally, special guest speakers included Mark Janson, CUPE Research who spoke to a number of sectors on Defined Benefit pension plans, CUPE National President Paul Moist who spoke about Manitoba’s positive track record on pensions, comparing Manitoba to other provinces where pensions are under attack. Newly elected Brandon City Councilor Lonnie Patterson also spoke on the importance of labour activists getting involved in local politics and elections.
For photos of the conference, visit CUPE Manitoba on Facebook or check out our Flikr gallery!
Province Proclaims Health Care Support Workers’ Week
The Province of Manitoba has once again proclaimed October 13 -17, 2014 as Health Care Support Workers’ Week!
This week is to celebrate the contributions of health care support workers to our community. Health care support workers work tirelessly each and every day to care for our loved ones. This week is dedicated to saying “thank you” to these workers, and to show our appreciation for the work they do.
Each year, CUPE Manitoba sends a request to the provincial government, asking for the week to be proclaimed. This year’s Health Care Support Workers’ Week will be held on the week of October 13 – 17. It is because of CUPE that a special week is dedicated to Manitoba’s health care support workers, and we’re proud of the contributions that our members make to communities province-wide.
On behalf of all CUPE members, we thank our health care support members, and we look forward to this year’s Health Care Support Workers’ Week.
Protect, strengthen and expand health care; town hall meeting in Winnipeg
Protect, strengthen and expand health care; town hall meeting in Winnipeg
Winnipeg – Manitoba is facing a $1.4 billion cut to health care funding by the federal government over the next ten years. By refusing to sign a new health accord with the provinces, the federal government is abandoning its responsibility to protect quality public health care services for all Manitobans.
Tonight in Winnipeg, the Council of Canadians and the Canadian Union of Public Employees are hosting a town hall meeting to discuss what these cuts will mean for Manitobans, and what can be done to support public solutions to make our health care stronger for all Canadians.
“With fair federal funding, we can create the health care system we need, with quality public health care for every Manitoban and every Canadian,” says Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians. “But when the federal government let the 2004 Health Accord expire and refused to negotiate a new agreement with the provinces and territories, it walked away from its responsibility to protect our public health care system.”
Barlow will be joined by Paul Moist, national president of CUPE, at tonight’s town hall and will discuss the need for the federal government to be a full partner with Manitoba and the other provinces and territories on health care.
“Without a new agreement, it will mean $36 billion less for Medicare over the next 10 years. This is not acceptable,” says Moist. “Over 87 per cent of Canadians – in every region of the country and across party lines – support public solutions to make health care stronger. What we’re missing is real federal leadership to protect our public health care system.”
The town hall will feature in-depth discussions on how health care funding cuts will affect services for Manitobans, and explore effective ways to expand public health care to better serve the changing needs of Canadians – such a public home care, long-term care and a national pharmacare program.
The Council of Canadians and CUPE invite the public to participate in the town hall meeting. Media are also invited to attend.
| When: | Thursday, April 17 |
| 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. | |
| Where: | Canad Inns Club Regent |
| 1415 Regent Ave. West | |
| Winnipeg, MB |