April 28 National Day of Mourning

April 28th marks the National Day of Mourning: a day for us to remember workers who were killed or injured while on the job.DOM_sticker

It is a day of reflection and memory for those we’ve lost, and a day of action to highlight the importance of workplace health and safety.

Please visit the Manitoba Federation of Labour website for more information on Day of Mourning events held across the province. http://mfl.ca/workplace/fatalities.html

CUPE applauds Manitoba Government for taking action on disability rights

WINNIPEG – Today the Government of Manitoba introduced a new bill in the Manitoba Legislature, expanding on the rights of persons living with disabilities in the province.

“We are encouraged that the NDP is taking disability rights seriously” stated Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba, “once enacted, this bill will set a new standard in the province, and will promote more discussion on disability and accessibility issues in Manitoba.”

The new bill is expected to reach Third Reading by the end of June, when it will become legislation.

“CUPE has been working on a national campaign across the country to raise awareness and action on disability rights in the workplace and the community” said Moist, “this new bill sends a strong message to Manitobans living with disabilities that the Manitoba government is not only adapting to the needs of the community, but taking a strong legislative stance in support of removing barriers and increasing access for all Manitobans.”

CUPE Manitoba is a proud endorser of Barrier Free Manitoba – a coalition of community organizations working towards disability rights legislation in the province.

CUPE represents over 25,000 members in Manitoba, including members working in support services for people living with disabilities. 

Visit the Barrier Free Manitoba website for more information.

CUPE Cautiously Optimistic With Manitoba Budget

Maintaining quality front line services for Manitobans a priority for CUPE

WINNIPEG – While today’s Manitoba budget announcement did not include significant funding increases to public services, CUPE is pleased that the budget does not include continued wage freezes for public sector workers.

“We appreciate that paying down the deficit is no longer shouldered by CUPE members as we have seen in previous budgets,” said CUPE Manitoba President Kelly Moist, “we are also pleased that we have not seen the types of cuts experienced by other provinces”.

CUPE applauds the government for providing additional funding resources to Family Services, schools and long-term care facilities, but cautions that these resources should be allocated to support staff that are on the front line providing care to Manitobans.

 

“Ensuring that our school support staff and health care aids receive their share of funding so they can do their work without over-stretched resources is important to quality education and health care” states Moist: “We will work with the province to ensure that these additional resources are allocated appropriately”.

 

Funding commitments to Family Services and early learning are all important parts of the CUPE Pay Equity Campaign.

 

CUPE also supports the province’s move to generate revenue rather than cutting front-line services, but questions the province’s use of a sales tax, rather than increasing taxes to top income earners and the richest corporations.

 

“CUPE believes that those who are doing well in today’s economy, namely the richest corporations, should be paying their fair share” continues Moist: “Manitoba needs to reassess its taxation policies, and move to a more equitable tax model”.

 

CUPE applauds the provincial government for taking leadership by increasing the minimum wage again this year, and will continue to monitor whether or not new infrastructure funding will be tied to Private Public Partnerships.

April 10 Day of Pink

CUPE members and staff in Manitoba marked April 10, Day of Pink by wearing pink T-shirts with the slogan: “It isn’t BIG to make others feel small: an anti-bullying message from theIMG_0946 CUPE Manitoba Human Rights Committee”.

Brother Lorenzo Dufrane, a member of Local 998 and the Human Rights Committee and the National Pink Triangle Committee, organized an event at his workplace, Manitoba Hydro.

Posters were circulated encouraging people to wear pink on April 10, and a table was set up in the workplace with CUPE material, including the Speak Out: Stop Bullying pamphlets, the pink frisbees and the bandanas. As well, there were information brochures about the services provided by the Rainbow Resource Centre and a fundraising draw to support the work of the Centre.

Many Manitoba Hydro employees were wearing pink and stopped by the table as a show of solidarity with the anti-bullying message. This event was a great opportunity to highlight the work of CUPE in our efforts to combat bullying and to promote the rights of all to work and live in a society that is free from harassment and discrimination.

CUPE MANITOBA CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

WINNIPEG – The Canadian Union of Public Employees is joining with a variety of Manitoba community and grassroots organizations in celebrating International Women’s Day.

However, while celebrating the labour movement’s contributions to advancing the rights of women in Canada, the wage gap between men and women as well as the underfunding of services for women and families continues to affect thousands of Manitobans.

Last December CUPE Manitoba met with the Manitoba Minister Responsible for the Status of Women to present a brief on Pay Equity in the province. This brief highlighted the fact that while NDP governments in Manitoba have taken important steps over the years to try to deal with the problems of wage discrimination faced by women in the workplace, currently Manitoba does not have any type of proactive pay equity legislation.

“Although the percentage of women working in Manitoba is one of the highest in the country, the wage gap between men and women still persists” states Maureen Morrison, Equality Representative for the Canadian Union of Public Employees, “Women working full-time for a full year in Manitoba earn only 72% of what men working full-time for a full year earn.”

“We are asking the Manitoba Government to implement pay equity legislation to cover the social services and child care sectors as a means of reducing the wage gap for our members and others working in these jobs” states Kelly Moist, President of CUPE Manitoba “the time to support women is now, and we cannot afford to continue underpaying these important and vital jobs.”

International Women’s Day events are scheduled throughout Friday, March 8th, including a rally beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Union Centre, 275 Broadway.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is Canada’s largest union representing more than a half-million members. In Manitoba, CUPE represents 27,000 members, including approximately 1,500 members working in the social services and child care sectors in communities throughout the province.

Click here to view the full CUPE Pay Equity Brief

For information, contact:
Maureen Morrison, CUPE Equality Representative at (204) 942-0343
David Jacks, CUPE Communications Representative at (204) 801-7339

International Women’s Week 2013

CUPE Manitoba would like to encourage all members to support and promote the following events commemorating International Women’s Week, March 3 – 8, 2013:

The Provincial Council of Women of Manitoba Inc.
2nd Annual High Tea fundraiser
March 3 at 3–5 pm
Fort Garry Hotel
Tickets $50 each and a table of eight is $350
Tickets available at McNally Robinson Bookstore in Grant Park, at pcwm@mymts.net or by calling PCWM at (204) 992-2751

FemRev, The Institute for Women’s and Gender Studies and both the
UMSU and UWSA Womyn’s Centres
Status Quo: The Unfinished Business of Feminism in Canada
March 4 at 7pm
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall
University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave free screening of award winning documentary
A documentary by Karen Cho and the National Film Board of Canada
(and featuring some local faces from the 2011 PanCanadian Young Feminist Gathering that was held in Winnipeg)
This is a physically accessible venue. Free bus tickets. Free on-site childminding.
Contact femrev.collective@gmail.com by Sunday March 3rd to secure a childminding spot.

U of W Womyn’s Centre
International Women’s Week Festival support
Monday, March 4
Free Breast Casting
Film Screenings – My Large Breasts and I and My Small Breasts and I (1:30-4 women only, 4-5 men welcome, Womyn’s Centre)
Tuesday, March 5
Bake Sale (10-2, 2nd floor escalators)
Sexual Health Workshop with Anlina Sheng (2-3:30, LGBT Centre)
Wednesday, March 6 (Women’s Week Festival (10-3, Bulman Centre)
All day clothing swap, Shine-A-Light tent, Knitting corner, Galaxy print tutorial, Screen printing with Ecopia, Art exhibit, Deborah Schnitzer celebrates and teaches the art of journalism (11;:30-12:30), Make your own damn sandwich lunch table (12-1:30), Sarasvàti Productions’ monologues (12:30-1:20), Man Cave (1:30-2:30), Chandra Mayor performance of “Feminism Saved My Life” (1:30-2:30)
Thursday, March 7
Reusable Pad Making with Ecopia (2, Riddell Cafeteria)
Herstory: Art by Women in the University of Winnipeg Collection (4-6, Gallery 1C03)
Friday, March 8
Sign Making (2:30, Womyn’s Centre)

Sarasvàti Productions
Wild Women: International Women’s Week Cabaret of Monologues
March 5 at 10am – Hosted by University of Manitoba Womyn’s Centre
I am Supergirl Monologue
U of M, Room 224-AC in University Centre
March 6 at 12:30pm – Hosted by University of Winnipeg Womyn’s Centre
Selection of Monologues – Bullman Centre
March 6 at 3pm – Hosted by University of Manitoba Womyn’s Centre
The Chronicles of Heloise – My Choice
U of M, Room 224-AC in University Centre
March 7 at 12noon Free Sneak Peek of selected monologues
Portage Place Mall, Edmonton Court – Free Sneak Peek
March 8 at 12noon Free Sneak Peek of selected monologues
Gallery at Manitoba Hydro Place (360 Portage Avenue)
March 8 at 8pm Full Show (tickets $10)
Gallery at Manitoba Hydro Place (360 Portage Avenue)
Featuring the Men’s Banner Project with Anna-Celestrya Carr and Buffalo Gals Drumming Group
www.sarasvati.ca

Manitoba Federation of Labour, Winnipeg Labour Council and Canadian Labour Congress
International Women’s Day Pancake Breakfast
March 8 from 7:30-9am; Guest speakers at 8am
Union Centre Auditorium
Proceeds to the Women’s Memorial Fund
Tickets $10 (available at the Winnipeg Labour Council 504-275 Broadway or 204-942-0522)

Manitoba Status of Women
International Women’s Day Commemoration
March 8 at 11:45am-1pm
Rotunda Manitoba Legislative Building
Women in Manitoba: Leading Transformative Change
A light luncheon will be provided
RSVP by March 4th 945-6281; msw@gov.mb.ca

International Women’s Day March – Solidarity
March 8 Free events organized by grassroots organizations
Union Centre (504-275 Broadway)
5:15pm Doors Open
5:30pm Rally featuring Sarasvàti Productions
6pm March through downtown Winnipeg
7pm Celebrate with refreshments and a program hosted by Chrissy Troy, including speakers Chikadee Richard, Jo Redsky and Bilan Arte
facebook.com/events/398559496905040

Mama Cutsworth & West Central Women’s Resource Centre
XX Factor Women on the Wheels of Steel Dance Party
March 8; doors open at 8pm
Regal Beagle Pub (331 Smith Street)
Tickets $10
Funds raised will support the Drop In program at the West Central Women’s Resource Centre
www.wcwrc.ca
Mondragon
In The Name Of Ending Kitchen Slavery! IWD Pizza and beer night
March 8 Starts at 7:30 and goes until…well, we run out of Pizza!
Women identified folks get cheap beer and pizza as part of our feminist happy hour(s)
Bring your talent open mic – off limits to cis-gendered men (we all know you talk enough)

MAWA (Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art) in partnership with Manitoba Craft Council
CRAFTSTRAVAGANZA
AMega-Workshop in Craft Practices from around the World
Saturday, March 9 from noon-4 pm
Free! All ages and genders welcome! Materials and child minding provided.
Eritrean snacks will be served.
At our much-anticipated 5th Annual IWD crafting event, four master craftswomen will be on hand. Come and go! Enjoy good food, good company and good crafting!
http://mawa.ca

Southern Manitoba Health Care Support Workers Choose CUPE!

Health care support workers in the new Southern Health-Santé Sud have chosen the Canadian Union of Public Employees to represent them, following weeks of representation votes triggered after the provincial government announced the amalgamation of several Regional Health Authorities (RHA) last May.

“We are proud that CUPE will be representing us into the future” states Candace Wright, Vice-President of CUPE Local 4270, “when it comes to representation and fighting for us at the bargaining table, we know that CUPE is the union for us.”

Health care support workers had the choice between the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).  The voting period for Southern Health-Santé Sud ran from October 5 to October 26, 2012.

The unofficial results of the vote were released by the Manitoba Labour Board on February 14, 2013.  “We are encouraged by the results of this vote” says Shannon McAteer, Health Care Coordinator for CUPE “we are committed to serving Manitoba’s health care support workers, and are proud of CUPE’s record as Manitoba’s strongest health care support workers’ union.  We are happy to welcome the new members to our union.”

The results of the votes are as follows:
CUPE: 636
MGEU: 534
Spoiled – 76

For more information on the healthcare representation votes, visit www.healthcare2012.cupe.ca

Dates have not yet been set for the counting of the ballots for the representation votes for Western Manitoba (the new Prairie Mountain Health), which took place between January 17 and January 31, 2013.

For more information, contact:

Shannon McAteer, CUPE Health Care Coordinator at (204) 797-8699

David Jacks, Communications Representative at (204) 801-7339

“Its Our University Too!” Staff and Students United in a Rally for Action

3909

On February 13th, six campus unions (CUPE 3909, UMSU, UMFA, CAW, AESES, and CUPE 1482) will hold an information picket at the Administration Building to voice concerns over actions by the administration supporting corporatization, privatization, contracting-out, diminished collegial governance, and increased workload.

The event will take place from 11:30 to 1:30 with food and drinks available.  Starting at 12:00 p.m., union representatives will talk about how the administration’s actions have affected their members

Since the commencement of the ROSE / OARS initiatives, students and staff at the University of Manitoba have been under increased strain as working and learning conditions come under attack.  We’ve all witnessed AESES workers overwhelmed as they are obliged to learn to use new operating systems that do not streamline work as promised; CAW employee numbers decrease and workload increases while the respectful workplace environment is eroded; students are excluded from voicing their concerns over the University’s future and conditions are created to allow for increased tuition and other user fees; and UMFA members, who are finding that collegial governance is diminishing, are concerned over proposed changes that will greatly impact programs and their working conditions.

Throughout all of these harmful changes to our working and learning environment, the administration at the University of Manitoba has been advertising itself as an “Employer of Choice” and one of “Manitoba’s Top 25 Employers.” The administration touts the employee benefits, physical facilities, and a respectful environment as some of the reasons that people choose to work at U of M.  For members of CUPE 3909, this self congratulatory tone is unwarranted: we are rarely eligible for benefits, we are often denied appropriate space to teach or to work, and while we get respect from students, it is sadly lacking from our employers.

Working conditions for CUPE 3909 members have never been optimal.  Student academic workers today are more likely to find themselves expected to work more hours than those assigned in their contracts and sessional employees are more uncertain about their futures than ever as courses are cut or reassigned without explanation and hiring practices become more opaque.  For both students and sessional employees, the corporate model degrades working conditions and drives down our wages.

CUPE 3909 works through the grievance procedure and through collective bargaining to protect and improve conditions for our members, but on February 13th we have an opportunity to raise our voices for ourselves and in solidarity with students and colleagues.  The actions of the administration towards employees and students directly contradict the image being promoted locally and nationally.

The changes we have seen under the Barnard administration, particularly over the last year, show an employer that is more concerned about external impressions and advertising awards than with conditions inside the university.

This information rally is a chance to show the University of Manitoba that a wide swath of the university community finds the direction administration is taking unacceptable and that we are all frustrated and dissatisfied.  We want the administration to know that this campus belongs to the entire university community and to the citizens of Manitoba.

CUPE 3909 will be providing signs for members to carry at the rally. You will receive more emails providing further information on pre-printed signs and “open message” signs where you can print your particular concerns.  Transportation to and from the Bannatyne campus will also be arranged.

All unions will be advertising this event around campus with posters and through direct member communications. CUPE 3909 urges you to come out in a show of solidarity and wear red to show how you feel.  Take a stand against the administration’s lack of regard for the students and for its employees.

Help send a strong message, rally for a change in direction because IT’S OUR UNIVERSITY TOO.

If you have any questions or feedback, please contact: cupe3909@gmail.com or (204) 453-5493