News

Filipino Labour Activist Visits Winnipeg

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The National President of the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees (COURAGE) will be speaking at two events in Winnipeg about the struggles and challenges of the labour movement in the Philippines.

Ferdie Gaite will be speaking at Sam’s Place, 159 Henderson Highway, to Manitoba labour leaders and union members on November 1, 2013, from 7 – 10 pm.

“We are honoured to have one of the Philippines’ most active labour organizers speak to us in Winnipeg” says Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba, “we are committed to helping defend labour rights of workers in the Philippines in the same way we are committed to defending labour rights in Canada, our struggles, while different, are the same”.

COURAGE is the largest labour confederation in the Philippines, with over 275,000 members at the forefront of the Philippine public sector workers’ struggle for decent wages, humane working conditions and full union rights. They are currently campaigning to expose, oppose, and fight against corruption.

“The struggle for decent wages, workplace health and safety, and decent public services is a universal struggle” says Moist, “building a bridge between our movements is essential in ensuring fairness for everyone”.

Also speaking at the event will be Kelly Moist, CUPE Manitoba President, Diwa Marcelino of Migrante, and a musical performance by Levy Abad Jr.

Admission is free, and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

The event is a pan-Canadian CUPE Global Justice Project.

Manitoba Long-Term Care Workers Rally for Better Quality Care

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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

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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.

Vigil for Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women – The Pas

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CUPE Manitoba organized a vigil on October 4th in The Pas, Manitoba as part of the nation-wide day of action and remembrance for missing and murdered Aboriginal women. Over 200 vigils were organized across Canada through partnership with the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

The vigil in The Pas, located at the Clearwater Lake Pump House where Helen Betty Osborne was murdered in 1971, served as a stark reminder of the legacies and horrors of colonialism, racism, and misogyny faced by far too many Aboriginal women in Canada. The vigils also reignited calls on the Federal Government to implement a full public inquiry into the countless cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada.

CUPE Manitoba was honoured to have organized this event along-side the Opaskwayak Health Authority.

CUPE MANITOBA RURAL TOUR-MEET AND GREET RECEPTIONS

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The CUPE Manitoba Executive board will be embarking on a rural tour at the end of September, 2013.  Events are being held in Selkirk, Brandon, Dauphin, Flin Flon and The Pas and we hope to engage members from all locals in these areas.

Below please find a list of the all the events that are planned for the 2013 Rural Tour.  Enclosed there is a poster that is specific to your region, please share this information within your locals and encourage members to attend.

At each destination CUPE Manitoba Executive Board will be hosting a Meet and Great Reception to celebrate; Health Care Support Workers Week, CUPE’s 50th Anniversary, Year of the New and Young Member and all CUPE Manitoba Members hard work and dedication.

CUPE Manitoba will also be providing updates on current issues and events and are looking forward to hearing from you!  Please come with any questions or suggestions that you may have.

Selkirk: September 30           4:30 pm – 5:30 pm:  Selkirk Park-Site #2

Brandon: October 1              11:00 am – 1:00 pm: Brandon regional office, 1911 Park Avenue

Dauphin: October 1              6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Dauphin regional office, 121-1st Street SW

Flin Flon: October 2              6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Victoria Inn Flin Flon

The Pas: October 3                6:00 pm- 9:00 pm: Super 8 Motel-1717 Gordon Avenue

Please do not hesitate to contact the CUPE Manitoba office if you have any further questions about these events.  We look forward to seeing you at one of these upcoming events.