Municipal

News and information about our municipal sector members.

Manitoba government offers responsible, visionary plan: CUPE

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WINNIPEG – Manitoba’s NDP government has once again offered the province a progressive vision for the upcoming year in its annual speech from the throne, in what CUPE Manitoba is calling “a responsible and visionary plan.”

“The Manitoba government has offered an incredibly progressive plan that reflects the needs of a great cross-section of Manitobans” said Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba, “offering paid leave for victims of domestic violence, ensuring support for new refugees, confirming funding for Shoal Lake’s freedom road – this is the whole package.”

This year’s Throne Speech reflects the nation-wide calls for action on numerous key issues, both domestic and international, positioning Manitoba as a clear leader on social justice and progressive economic growth.

“After over a decade of steady growth and pragmatic stewardship over the economy, this government is well poised to tackle some pretty big issues” said Moist, “Manitobans expect a government that is both responsible and visionary, and that’s what today’s Throne Speech offers.”

Highlights of the Throne Speech include extending paid leave to victims of domestic violence, support for Syrian and other refugees, a renewed call for a  national inquiry on missing and murdered Indigenous women, a renewed commitment to building the Shoal Lake 40 freedom road, investments in infrastructure and rapid transit, stable funding for colleges and universities, and a commitment to building 12,000 affordable childcare spaces.

The Throne Speech further commits to protecting Manitoba’s crown corporations against privatization.

“While other provinces are recklessly privatizing their key assets, Manitoba’s NDP government has pledged to protect our important institutions” said Moist, “all we need to do is look to our east or west to see what Liberal and Conservative governments have to offer, and it’s not pretty.”

Additionally the Throne Speech continues the government’s steady funding towards health care, education, infrastructure, and improving long-term care, all of which affect the work that CUPE members perform daily

“As the union that represents workers in communities and workplaces across Manitoba, we are excited to work with this government as it turns its vision into reality,” said Moist, “today’s Throne Speech is a great launching point for a new, progressive plan for our province.”

Solidarity Sector Conference – Second Call

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The CUPE Manitoba Solidarity Sector Conference is fast-approaching!

This is a great opportunity to meet with fellow CUPE members from your own sector, to discuss trends, issues, and opportunities within your sector (ie: Health Care, Long-Term Care, Municipal, Social Service & Childcare, Crowns, Education, etc).

Please contact CUPE Manitoba for more information!

Download (PDF, 293KB)

Better Choice: let’s start talking about the Federal election

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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!

CUPE Western Municipal Conference Takes Place in Winnipeg

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Winnipeg – Municipal workers from across Western Canada are gathering in Winnipeg this week to discuss important issues facing the municipal sector.

The CUPE Western Municipal Conference is bringing CUPE municipal members from 30 Locals from across BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba together to tackle issues including privatization, contracting out, Public Private Partnerships, as well as trends facing the sector.

“Municipal workers are often the first in our communities to be threatened by privatization” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba. “Municipal workers face serious challenges from right-wing decision makers, and we need to work together to push back against these threats”.

The Conference is being held in Winnipeg and concludes on Friday, June 26th.

Keynote speakers include CUPE National President Paul Moist, CUPE Senior Economist Toby Sanger, CUPE Researcher Jordana Feist, and will feature presentations on topics ranging from P3s and infrastructure to the upcoming Federal Election.

Additionally, delegates are visiting the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which features a discussion on labour rights and the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike.

CUPE represents approximately approximately 185,000 municipal workers in communities across Canada.

CUPE 500 Presents to Public Works Committee – Snow Plowing should be brought back in-house

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CUPE Local 500 President Mike Davidson presented a summary of the local’s Public Plowing Works report to the City of Winnipeg Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Public Works, calling for contracted-out snow clearing to be brought back in-house.winnipeg

“CUPE 500’s Snow Plowing Hotline resulted in hundreds of comments and concerns from across the city” Davidson told the committee. “The fact that so many Winnipeggers have offered their concerns and ideas on snow plowing indicates strong public interest in this core city service”.

On February 10th the committee approved a motion to conduct an in-depth review of the city’s snow clearing services, with particular focus on a cost and quality comparison between private contractors and city-run snow clearing services.

On February 23rd, CUPE Local 500 launched a snow plowing hotline and website aimed at collecting stories from Winnipeggers about their experiences with snow plowing in our city.

Below is a summary of the report. The full report will be provided to City Council at the same time as the City’s own report on cost comparisons between public and private plowing in Winnipeg.

The date of the City’s report is yet to be determined.

Download (PDF, 430KB)

 

 

Solidarity with ATU 1505 – Action Alert

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Dear members,

The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 is holding an info picket at Winnipeg’s City Hall on Tuesday, May 12th at noon.

ATU members have been strong supporters of many CUPE info pickets over the past year, showing up at our pickets at Tuxedo Villa (CUPE 2180) and Community Living Selkirk (CUPE 3085).

Please take time to come out and support the ATU’s info picket for a fair deal with Winnipeg Transit.

ATU 1505 supporting CUPE 3085
ATU 1505 supporting CUPE 3085

 

Manitoba budget supports infrastructure. What it means for CUPE members

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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 in Manitoba are represented in workplaces across the province, in almost every community. Building physical infrastructure like roads means a lot to CUPE members.

But what does the 2015 provincial budget mean to CUPE members in Manitoba?

Investments in infrastructure make it easier and safer for our members to do their jobs, to get to work and return home to their families safely. The Manitoba government has introduced numerous safety measures over the years to protect both drivers as well as CUPE members who work on roads (including municipal workers).

From school bus drivers to health care aides getting to work, this government’s prioritisation of improved roads means a lot to CUPE members.

Some highlights of new improvements to roads in Manitoba include: elections

–       Repaving PTH 10- near Swan River and south of Flin Flon.

–       PTH 6 north

–       PTH to Steinbach

–       PTH 10 north and south of Brandon

The province is also committed to improving roads and flood protection in Winnipeg and across the province as well as expanding and improving transit services, making it easier for CUPE members to have access to reliable transit.

Althought Manitoba is the first province in Canada to implement P3 accountability legislation (a move supported by CUPE), we will work with the province to push back against any type of P3 highway project as seen in Ontario.

Stay tuned for “Manitoba budget fights poverty. What it means for CUPE members”

 

Provincial budget reflects needs of Manitobans, invests in services.

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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.