WINNIPEG, TREATY 1 – Manitoba’s largest union is pleased to see the NDP government’s Budget 2025 take new steps to strengthen public services as part of the province’s fiscal plan to meet the moment in Manitoba. This budget serves as a clear contrast to the cuts to programs and services in the United States.
On February 11, CUPE Manitoba President Gina McKay presented a number of CUPE priorities to the Manitoba Minister of Finance during the government’s budget consultation.
McKay highlighted the importance of investing in good Manitoba jobs, bringing services and work back in-house from the previous government's privatization, and rejecting continued privatization of public services.
Winnipeg, Treaty 1 – Manitoba’s largest union is applauding the NDP government’s first budget, which should help address chronic understaffing in healthcare, childcare, municipal services, and education.
“Hiring 600 health care aides will help fill the staffing holes created by the previous government”, said Gina McKay, President of CUPE Manitoba. “We hear every day from health care support staff across Manitoba who are calling for backup, and now the help is coming”.
WINNIPEG, TREATY 1 – Manitoba’s largest union is not convinced that Premier Heather Stefanson’s provincial budget is anything more than an attempt to bury the harm the conservatives have caused to public services in Manitoba.
“After two terms of active attacks on public services, the Conservatives think that they can buy themselves the next election,” said Gina McKay, President of CUPE Manitoba.
WINNIPEG – The 2022 Manitoba budget continues to put public services at risk, says CUPE Manitoba.
“Manitobans expect to see a budget that protects the public services they rely on,” says
Gina McKay, President of CUPE Manitoba. “This government continues to cut taxes for ideological reasons rather than fully supporting our schools and health care facilities.
Winnipeg – Today the Manitoba Government announced new funding towards staffing in long-term care facilities, but fails to address systemic staffing shortages for Manitoba’s care homes, according to CUPE.
“While we welcome additional funding for long term care staffing, the government has missed this moment in time to address systemic staffing shortages across long-term and seniors’ care” said Gina McKay, President of CUPE Manitoba.
The Manitoba Throne Speech offers little reassurance that the provincial government will support public education and child care, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
“With the elimination of the education property tax, we are concerned that the government will resort to school cuts, especially under the auspices of the K-12 review,” said Abe Araya, President of Manitoba.
BRANDON – Delegates at the 2019 CUPE Manitoba Convention in Brandon elected Abe Araya as President of the province’s largest union. Abe Araya comes from CUPE Local 110, representing custodians, maintenance, and painters at the Winnipeg School Division.
“Our union is focused on fighting back against cuts to health care, education, social services, and privatization,” said Araya.
This week the Pallister Conservatives created a double standard on public sector wages.
"They made the ridiculous decision to give themselves a massive retroactive raise while forcing a wage freeze on our members," said Terry Egan, President of CUPE Manitoba. "While this Premier is making deals to give himself a massive raise, our members are doing more with less.
CUPE members in Manitoba are celebrating a major victory against P3s.
Five new schools in Winnipeg and Brandon will be built without the using a Public-Private Partnership (P3) model, according to the 2018 Manitoba Budget.
The government initially planned to build four schools under the P3 model, but after a cost-benefit analyses the savings were found to be enough to build an entire fifth school!