Demonstrations Organized Calling for New Health Accord

Winnipeg – Manitobans, including CUPE health care support workers, will be demonstrating outside the constituency offices of Conservative Members of Parliament in Winnipeg, calling for a new federal Health Accord.

The 10-year Health Accord negotiated between the federal and provincial governments in 2004 expired today, and the federal Conservatives have refused to negotiate a new Health Accord with the provinces.  With the expiration of the Health Accord, Manitoba stands to lose $1.3 billion from health care funding over the next ten years.

“The expiration of the Health Accord puts our system of public health care at risk,” says CUPE Manitoba President Kelly Moist.  “We need a commitment from Manitoba’s Members of Parliament that they will negotiate a new agreement with the province to save our public health care system.”

Two rallies are organized in Winnipeg:

  • Elmwood – Transcona Member of Parliament Lawrence Toet’s constituency office, 127 Regent Avenue West;
  • Charleswood – St. James – Assiniboia & Headingley Member of Parliament Steven Fletcher’s constituency office, Unit A – 3111 Portage Avenue.

Both events take place from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm on Monday, March 31, 2014.

CUPE represents approximately 8,000 health care support workers across Manitoba, including hospitals, long-term care homes, and community clinics.  The campaign to save public health is organized by CUPE and the Council of Canadians.

For more information on the federal Health Accord, visit saveourhealthcare.ca.

Manitoba Long-Term Care Workers Rally for Better Quality Care

Winnipeg – Long-term care workers in Manitoba are rallying at the Manitoba Legislature between 12:00 and 1:00pm on Tuesday, October 29th calling on the provincial and federal governments to improve the quality and standard of care in personal care homes.

“Our members are dedicated and hard-working health care support workers” states Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba “we are taking action to ensure the best level of care possible for our elders”.

The rally is calling for action against “working short” – when the employer does not replace or backfill staff. The rally is also calling for the federal government to increase health transfers to the provinces, and establish a national continuing care program, with minimum staffing standards.

“Because of inadequate staffing, we are often forced to take on additional duties, doing the work of two or more people” states Daniel Richards, Secretary Treasurer of CUPE Local 3729 at Lions Housing Personal Care Home “this impacts both our own health and safety, and the safety of residents”.

What: Rally for Better Long-Term Care

Who: Manitoba long-term care workers  

Where: Manitoba Legislature (front steps)

When: Tuesday, October 29, from 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Speakers at the rally include Kelly Moist, CUPE Manitoba President, Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU President,  Kevin Rebeck, Manitoba Federation of Labour, Daniel Richards, Secretary Treasurer CUPE Local 3729, Paul Moist, President of CUPE (National), and Lynn Fernandez, Errol Black Chair in Labour Issues, CCPA.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 25,000 members in Manitoba, including thousands of private and public long-term care employees.

Lions Housing Personal Care Home Employees Vote to Strike

Winnipeg – An overwhelming majority (85%) of employees at Lions Housing Personal Care Home voted in favour of a strike mandate for a second time in a vote conducted on Friday, October 18th.
“Long term care workers deserve fairness and respect” states Daniel Richards, Treasurer of CUPE Local 3729, “we are underpaid, overworked, short-staffed, and cannot provide the level and quality of care that we think Manitobans deserve”.

The strike vote comes after months of negotiations, meetings with a provincial conciliation officer on August 12th and 21st, and two days of information pickets in August. Additionally, a vote was conducted on October 3rd, with a majority of employees voting to strike. The employer requested an extension to the strike deadline and unfortunately could not return to the table with a fair offer.

“Our members care very deeply for the residents at Lions Housing Personal Care Home” states Paula Raposo, CUPE National Representative, “yet the employer and provincial funders do not seem to recognize that the people responsible for taking care of Manitoba seniors need to be compensated fairly for their work”.

Employees at Lions Housing Personal Care Home are approximately 9.5% below other similarly operated long-term care facilities.

In addition to fair wages, CUPE Local 3729 members are also joining the province-wide call against working “short-staffed” in Manitoba long-term care homes. Working short staffed occurs when there are not enough health care aides per shift to adequately care for all residents. This leads to employees struggling to fill the gap in the workload and can lead to stress, additional sick time and an unsafe work environment.

The strike date is set for October 28, 2013.
Visit https://3729.cupe.ca/ for more information.

Lions Housing Personal Care Home Employees to Hold Information Pickets

Health care aides at Lions Housing Personal Care Home will be holding a second information picket on Monday, August 19th from 2:30 – 4:30 pm.

CUPE Local 3729 is organizing the information picket to raise public awareness towards the ongoing issue of working short staffed in the personal care home, as well as to the low wages these health care aides are paid. The Local represents 80 health care aides ai the facility.
“Health care aides in long-term care facilities are underpaid, understaffed and overworked”
says Matt McLean, CUPE National Representative, “these employees provide valuable care for residents, and deserve respect from the employer in return.”

The collective agreement between CUPE Local 3729 and the employer expired in
September 2012.
“Addressing the issue of working short staffed is a priority for our members” says McLean,
“providing quality care to Manitoba’s seniors is what our members pride themselves on, and we ask that the employer take action to ensure adequate staffing.”

On Thursday, August 8th, CUPE Local 3729 held a strike vote where the members
unanimously voted for a strike mandate. The Local and the Employer met with a Conclliation Officer on August 12th and are scheduled to meet again with the Conciliation Officer on August 21.
“Our members are taking action in order to provide the level and quality of care we all
deserve” concludes McLean.

Lions Housing Personal Care Home is located at 320 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg.

Lions Housing Personal Care Home Info Picket

Winnipeg – Health care aides at Lions Housing Personal Care Home will be holding an information picket on Thursday, August 8th from 2:30 – 4:30 pm.

CUPE Local 3729 is organizing the information picket to raise public awareness towards the ongoing issue of working short staffed in the personal care home, as well as to the low wages health care aides are expected to perform their duties on.

“Health care aides in long-term care facilities are underpaid, overworked, and often work short staffed” says Paula Raposo, CUPE Long-Term Care Coordinator, “these employees provide valuable care for residents, and deserve respect from the employer in return.”

The collective agreement between CUPE local 3729 and the employer expired in September 2012.

“Addressing the issue of working short staffed is a priority for our members” says Raposo, “providing quality care to Manitoba’s seniors is what our members pride themselves on, and we ask that the employer take action to ensure adequate staffing.”

Long-term care employees at CUPE Local 2719 (Maples Personal Care Home) held four days of information pickets in July, demanding that the issue of working short be addressed in their facility.

“Our members are taking action in order to provide the level and quality of care we all deserve” concludes Raposo.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union and represents more than 25,000 workers in Manitoba.

Health Care Support Workers’ Week Proclaimed!

Manitoba Minister of Health Theresa Oswald has once again proclaimed the second week of October as Health Care Support Workers’ Week!

This is a week designated to honour and celebrate all the health care support workers in Manitoba who work tirelessly every day to keep Manitobans safe, healthy and happy!

CUPE is proud to be an integral part in ensuring that Manitoba’s health care support workers are recognized for the important work you do.

Read the full proclamation below:

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Maples personal care home employees ratify tentative agreement

Employees at Maples Personal Care Home (PCH) in Winnipeg represented by CUPE Local 2719 have ratified a new collective agreement on Wednesday, July 31st.
A 94% strike mandate was achieved on June 28th, followed by four days of information pickets and meetings with a provincial conciliation officer. These information pickets drew over a hundred supporters, including CUPE members from across Manitoba.
CUPE National Representative Paula Raposo says, “The bargaining committee worked extremely hard to achieve a fair contract, we are proud of their accomplishments throughout this difficult round of bargaining”.
The primary outstanding issues included wage parity with other personal care homes operated by Revera, as well as addressing the ongoing issue of “working short-staffed”.
Members of CUPE Local 2719 care very deeply about the quality of care they provide to the residents of Maples PCH. Throughout negotiations members have been calling on the employer to provide adequate staffing levels in the facility.
The employer agreed to a Letter of Understanding, establishing a committee to monitor and assess staffing levels in the facility, as well as a commitment to ensure full staffing no later than October 1st.
“Long-term care employees province-wide have raised concerns that there is not enough staffing in Manitoba’s personal care homes” says Raposo, “at Maples they are consistently working short staffed, in addition to being underpaid for years – we are hopeful that this agreement will bridge the wage gap, and address the staffing issue seriously.”
CUPE Local 2719 represents 130 health care aides, dietary aides, recreation facilitators, and cooks at Maples Personal Care Home.