News

National Day of Mourning – April 28, 2015

by

via @mfl.ca

Since the 1980s, Canada’s labour movement has observed every April 28 as the Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured on the job. In 1990, Canada’s Parliament officially recognized the National Day of Mourning, and since then the tradition has spread to more than 100 countries.

The Day of Mourning is a day to honour the memory of those workers who have died, and to stand up for safe and healthy jobs.

Every year, the MFL and Labour Councils across Manitoba organize Day of Mourning events.

Please join us for a candlelight memorial service to remember these workers and to reaffirm our resolve to work for safe and healthy workplaces.

A reception with refreshments will take place before the service at 10:45 AM.

For more information, contact Tara Peel (204-953-2563)

  • Visit mfl.ca for more Day of Mourning events in Manitoba

Federal budget rewards the rich but fails every day Canadians

by

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

Highlights from the 2015 CUPE Manitoba Convention

by

Dauphin – Over one hundred union activists from across Manitoba gathered on April 8 -11 at Credit Union Place in Dauphin for the annual convention of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Manitoba.

“We are proud to host this year’s convention in Dauphin,” said Kelly Moist who was re-elected as president of CUPEManitoba. “Dauphin has a rich history of progressive movements, from the ground breaking guaranteed wage project to our union activists today.”

Keynote speakers included Premier Greg Selinger, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre Pat Martin, and Mayor of Dauphin Eric Irwin. “We’ve seen all across Canada the role CUPE plays in fighting for equality and justice,” said Premier Selinger. “The role of the labour movement in advocating for safe workplaces is fundamental.”

“We need to build an economy that benefits everybody in the community: fair wages and working conditions, working together to create good jobs and public services,” said Mayor Irwin. “None of that would be possible without CUPE.” Irwin reminded us that while some governments “beat up on unions” we need to “work together to oppose those governments that don’t share our beliefs and values.”

Members debated resolutions over the course of four days, including a re-commitment to pushing for a national inquiry on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Other resolutions were passed strengthening our fight for defined benefit pension plans for school sector and long-term care sector members, continuing our fight against privatization, as well as a resolution to fight against racism in our workplaces and community.

Delegates also spoke on the importance of our relationship with the New Democratic Party, emphasizing the need to get involved in the upcoming federal and provincial elections to help elect a labour-friendly federal government in Ottawa and re-electing our party here in Manitoba.

CUPE Manitoba was proud to honour brother Mike Davidson of Local 500 with the prestigious Jack Rodie award in recognition of his long-standing commitment to the labour movement.

Kerri Irvin-Ross, Manitoba Minister of Family Services, Housing and Community Development, also stopped by the convention to meet with delegates.

Special thanks to our brothers and sisters from the labour movement including CUPE National President Paul Moist, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer Charles Fleury, CUPE Saskatchewan President Tom Graham, Manitoba Federation of Labour President Kevin Rebeck, Canadian Labour Congress Representative Cindy Murdoch, and Carolyn Unsworth, 1st Vice-President of the Hospital Employees’ Union in B.C.

For more photos from the convention, visit the CUPE Manitoba Flickr gallery or like us on Facebook. 

CUPE Manitoba holds annual convention in Dauphin, April 8 – 11

by

Dauphin – Over one hundred union activists from across Manitoba are gathering at Credit Union Place in Dauphin for the annual convention of the Canadian Union of Public Employees Manitoba.

“We are proud to host our annual convention here in Dauphin” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba “Dauphin has a rich history of progressive movements, from the groundbreaking guaranteed wage project to our union activists today”.

Speakers at this year’s convention include:

Wednesday, April 8

  • Eric Irwin, Mayor of Dauphin
  • Greg Selinger, Premier of Manitoba

Thursday, April 9

  • Kevin Rebeck, President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour
  • Tom Graham, President of CUPE Saskatchewan
  • Paul Moist, CUPE National President

Friday, April 10

  • Pat Martin, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre
  • Charles Fleury, CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer

Saturday, April 11

  • Cindy Murdoch, Canadian Labour Congress

In Manitoba, the Canadian Union of Public Employees represents approximately 25,000 members working in health care facilities, personal care homes, school divisions, municipal services, social services, child care centres, public utilities, libraries and family emergency services.

CUPE Manitoba Welcomes New Members at the City of Steinbach

by

STEINBACH, MANITOBA – The Canadian Union of Public Employees is proud to welcome new members from the City of Steinbach Public Works and Solid Waste departments.

“CUPE is Manitoba’s strongest union for municipal workers” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba “we know the types of issues municipal workers face, and we’re proud to represent members at the City of Steinbach”.

CUPE will now represent approximately 26 members in the City of Steinbach, in addition to approximately 7000 municipal workers in communities across Manitoba.

An application for certification to join CUPE was issued by the Manitoba Labour Board on March 27, 2015.

CUPE Manitoba represents over 25,000 members in Manitoba, including municipalities, school divisions, health care, social services, crown corporations, and post-secondary education.

Local 3909 fights back against budget cuts

by

CUPE Local 3909, representing academic support staff at the University of Manitoba, jacksjoined with other campus labour and student groups to fight back against cuts imposed by the university’s administration on departments and staff.

The University of Manitoba is already acting on a proposed 4% cut across all departments, with the bulk of the cuts falling on programs and support staff.  Dozens of support staff jobs have already been cut, with 26 AESES jobs being reported as lost.

On April 1st, hundreds of students and staff rallied outside the Board of Governors meeting room, and marched through campus calling on the university to immediately end the cuts, and to ensure adequate funding for all programs and staff.

“We are not alone in our unrest,” said Jennifer Black, CUPE 3909 Vice-President Unit 1.  Black stressed the importance of standing in solidarity with students in Québec who have been marching in the streets in opposition to tuition fee hikes, as well as academic staff in Ontario who went on strike demanding an end to poverty wages and precarious employment.  “Today we throw our collective energy behind that surge to push back against dangerous budget cuts proposed by our university,” said Black.

CUPE Local 3909 represents approximately 1,500 academic support staff at the University of Manitoba.

For more information visit 3909.cupe.ca.

Winnipeg operating budget “devil is in the detail”

by

WINNIPEG – The union that represents Winnipeg’s municipal workers is looking to the Mayor to protect the city’s front line services and staff.

“Our city relies on our contingent of expert staff,” said Mike Davidson, President of CUPE Local 500. “After many years of vacancy management and a proposed additional increase of $3.4 million over last year, many of our city’s services are being operated with reduced levels of staffing.”

The effect of the city’s decade-long property tax freeze, coupled with the equally long vacancy management program, has put the city far behind other cities in Western Canada.

“We’re looking for leadership from City Hall to improve, rather than cut the services Winnipeggers rely on,” said Davidson. “We have a lot of catching up to do as a city, so now is the time to invest in our future.”

Average tax increases in large Western Canadian cities in 2015 is approximately 4.86 per cent, twice that of the proposed 2.3 per cent in Winnipeg. “Winnipeg’s revenue streams have been strangled for a decade,” said Davidson. “Now is the time for investment, not further austerity and cuts.”

CUPE Local 500 would like to see leadership from the city on the following:

  • An immediate end to the vacancy management program – to ensure adequate staffing levels in city services;
  • Increased staff levels in 311 – to ensure Winnipeggers have immediate access to front line services;
  • Contracting-in of previously outsourced work such as snow clearing, to ensure accountable and quality public service delivery;
  • Eliminate further reductions to the business tax. Business and commercial properties need to contribute more to the financial well being of our city;
  • An increase in tax revenue that matches average tax increases in other Western Canadian cities;
  • An improved public engagement and consultation budget process that includes input by members of the public service and civic unions and associations;
  • Maintaining or improving the level of city services currently being provided to Winnipeggers – to ensure that our citizens do not receive cuts to the services they rely on.

“We understand that running a city budget is difficult,” said Davidson “and we want City Hall to know that we, as the city’s workers, are here to offer our expertise and help.”

CUPE 500 launches snow plowing hotline

by

WINNIPEG – The union that represents Winnipeg’s municipal workers is looking for the public’s feedback on the state of the city’s snow clearing services through a toll-free hotline and website. winnipeg

“We know that Winnipeggers have concerns about snow plowing,” said Mike Davidson, President of CUPE Local 500. “We want to collect citizens’ stories on how poor plowing has affected their lives.”

On February 10th, the City of Winnipeg Standing Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works endorsed a motion to develop a report that compares the cost and quality of private snow clearing contractors to snow clearing provided by city workers. Approximately 80% of Winnipeg’s snow clearing is contracted out to private companies.

“We believe city workers can do the job better,” said Davidson. “Our hotline will collect stories from Winnipeggers to help show the city that our community deserves the best snow plowing possible. This is a winter city, after all!”

Information gathered from the Snow Plowing Hotline will be compiled and provided to the Public Works Department to help inform their report with real stories from Winnipeggers. The Snow Plowing Hotline can be reached at 1-855-223-9311 FREE. Winnipeggers are encouraged to leave a message about how poor snow plowing has affected them – whether it’s damage to property, delays getting to work, or impact on their business.

A website is also available at wpgsnow.ca where citizens can also leave their stories and learn more about how their experiences will be used to help improve snow clearing in Winnipeg.

“At the end of the day we all want better services for our city,” said Davidson. “We believe that by sharing our stories we can find great solutions to the city’s snow clearing woes.”

To reach the Snow Plowing Hotline call 1-855-223-9311 FREE or visit wpgsnow.ca.

Winnipeggers who have not yet done so are also encouraged to file an official complaint with 311.

CUPE Local 500 represents approximately 5,000 employees at the City of Winnipeg.

CUPE Manitoba Endorses Greg Selinger for Leader of Manitoba’s NDP

by

The CUPE Manitoba executive, represented by union leaders from across the province, has endorsed Greg Selinger as leader of the Manitoba NDP.
“Greg Selinger’s record in support of working people in Manitoba is unrivaled nation-wide” said Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba “we are confident that under his leadership we will continue to see progressive action on labour issues moving forward”.
The CUPE Manitoba executive is composed of representatives from across the province, including workers in health care, school divisions, social services, municipalities, and long-term care. The CUPE Manitoba executive voted in support of Greg Selinger at a meeting held on January 23rd, 2015.
“Many of our members remember what it is like to work under a Conservative government” said Moist “and we need to work together now to ensure that we elect a strong, united NDP government in 2016”.
CUPE Manitoba will be encouraging CUPE members who are members of the NDP to support Greg Selinger at the Manitoba NDP Convention on March 6 -8.
While all members have the right to vote for whomever they support, CUPE Manitoba encourages members to seriously consider Greg Selinger’s proven record in support of labour.
“Under Greg Selinger’s leadership we have developed a relationship of mutual respect” said Moist “he always lends an ear to labour, and is honest with us about what can and cannot be done – and we respect that honesty”.