News

Southern Manitoba Health Care Support Workers Choose CUPE!

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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

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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

CUPE members hold “kitchen table” conversations on public child care

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GIMLI – CUPE members from across Manitoba met to discuss the importance of public child care, and the need for a national child care strategy.

This meeting took part during CUPE’s Winter School in Gimli, Manitoba (January 25-27) where approximately 80 CUPE members gathered to discuss stewarding, financial officer training, health and safety, and public speaking.

The “kitchen table” discussions were an informal way for members to talk about their personal experiences with both public and private childcare centres. Members discussed the need to create a greater awareness of the current child care situation, and how it affects families and communities.

These conversations are the first part of a multi-year child care campaign. With the active support of CUPE members we will be making the call for public and non-profit child care a priority in the 2015 federal election.

During these discussions, members highlighted the fact that many are paying over $1,000/month in childcare expenses, while others are on five-year waiting lists for public child care facilities. Additionally, private child care centres are exploiting the opportunity to move in and “fill the gap” caused by insufficient public funding for childcare nation-wide: costing families more, for less.

One member told the story that they had to move into an apartment from a home in order to pay for their child’s care.

One member told the story that he and his “buddies” were discussing their family’s child care needs during a “Winnipeg Jets” NHL game and how difficult it is to find childcare spots in Manitoba for their children.

One member told the story that her family could not afford to invest in a home because child care costs were too high.

One member told the story about how childcare workers are underpaid, and often can’t afford child care themselves.

Discussions also centred on broader issues, including work-life balance priorities, social and economic rights, women’s equality and human rights.

Maureen Morrison, CUPE Equality Representative and kitchen table discussion organizer notes that holding a conversation on child care is exciting and easy to do: just arrange a time and place, and the conversation happens naturally as members share their stories.

These kitchen table discussions are happening every day as parents and families struggle to provide for their children. The time to take the conversation from the kitchen table to the government is now. CUPE along with other unions, the CLC and coalition partners are organizing “kitchen table” discussions with members across the country to build an action plan to re-think child care in Canada.

Contact Shellie Bird sbird@cupe.ca to learn more on how you can organize a “kitchen table” conversation with CUPE members in your local.

CUPE Manitoba Aboriginal Council and Common Causes: Idle No More

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IMG_0822The CUPE Manitoba Aboriginal Council was proud to be invited to speak at the Idle No More #J28 demonstration and round dance at the Manitoba Legislature on January 28, 2013.

CUPE MB Aboriginal Council co-chair Sister Shirley Langan gave a strong message that movements must join together in Common Causes to fight back against the Harper Government’s politics of division.

“We know the hardships our working people face in the workplace, the discrimination that many aboriginal workers put up with day-by-day: before, during, and after work.” said Langan to the nearly 1,000 participants “This discrimination takes many faces: racism, wage differences, the way we are treated by our employer, and access to education.”

Sister Langan highlighted the importance of Common Causes as an assembly of social movements dedicated to defending democracy, the environment and human rights in the face of an all out assault by the Harper government.

“This government is practicing a cynical and divisive kind of politics where they set aboriginal peoples and non-aboriginal peoples against each other, just as they pit non-union workers against unionized workers.”

For more information on Common Causes, visit www.commoncauses.ca

Manitoba Provincial Pre-Budget Consultations Announced

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Seven pre-budget consultations will be held across Manitoba with Minister of Finance Stan Struthers. These meetings are meant to provide Manitobans an opportunity to propose priorities, thoughts, and suggestions as the Government builds its 2013 provincial budget.

CUPE members are strongly encouraged to attend these consultations, as provincial funding affects health care, education, social services, municipalities, jobs & employment, and more!

The Pre-Budget Consultations are scheduled for the following dates:

January 21, 7-9pm
Winnipeg South – Fort Garry Community Club, Victoria Main Hall
*Bilingual Consultation

January 22, 7-9pm
Gimli – Lakeview Resort

January 23, 7-9pm
Niverville Heritage Centre

January 28, 1-3pm
Flin Flon Chamber Councils

January 28, 2013 7-9pm
Swan River – Westwood Inn at Conference Centre

January 29, 7-9pm
Winnipeg North, Valley Gardens Community Club

January 30, 1-3pm
Brandon – Sokal Hall

If you’re unable to attend a consultation, you can share your views in writing with the minister at Budget Consultations, Room 103, 450 Broadway, Winnipeg, R3C 0V8; by email at minfin@leg.gov.mb.ca or by filling out the questionnaire at www.gov.mb.ca.