News

CUPE Local 500 launches new TV ad promoting quality, dependable public services

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Local 500 is launching a new 30-second TV ad that highlights the risks of putting Winnipeg’s public services in the hands of for-profit corporations. 

“At a time when private delivery of many of the city’s services is being considered by the Mayor and some members of Council, it’s important to remind the public of what we have lost, and let them know we are at risk of losing even more,” said Mike Davidson, President of CUPE Local 500. 

“For Sale” will begin airing on Winnipeg stations Wednesday, October 31 and will run until the end of November.

“The attack on public services is intensifying in Winnipeg,” said Davidson. “Continued privatization and contracting out will mean higher costs, fewer and less dependable services, and less accountability for the people of Winnipeg.”

You can click here to view the ad.

CUPE Manitoba supports walk for shelters

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CUPE’s Respect Campaign is honoured to once again support Steve Braun’s Walk for the Shelters as he walks from Winkler to Winnipeg to raise money for two women’s shelters, drawing attention to the fact that women’s shelters across Manitoba lack the funding necessary to provide adequate services to victims of domestic violence.

On September 28th at 8:30 am, Steve Braun will be completing his 150 kilometre walk.  “I’m proud to once again walk alongside Steve in his quest to make people aware of just how under-funded our women’s shelters really are,” said Sheree Capar, CUPE National Representative and Respect Campaign organizer, “these shelters need adequate resources to provide women and children who are victims of domestic violence a safe alternative.”

CUPE Manitoba represents social services workers in women’s shelters across Manitoba.  The goal of the Respect Campaign is to raise the profile of what CUPE members contribute to the people in their care, and for their communities.

“Shelters must receive adequate funding from the provincial government, and it’s clear that action must be taken now” said Capar.

Media and members of the public are welcome to join Steve Braun as he completes his walk.

Gathering and refreshments at 8:30 am at the Union Centre, 275 Broadway, Winnipeg.  Walk with Steve Braun to the Manitoba Legislature at 9:00 am.

For more information about the Walk for the Shelters or to make a donation, please visit the Walk for the Shelters website:  www.walkfortheshelters.com

Municipal workers in The Pas vote to strike

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An overwhelming majority of workers at the Town of The Pas voted 96% in favour of a strike mandate in a vote conducted on September 13th. The workers belong to Local 745 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and have been negotiating since March 2011.

On August 14th and 15th, the Parties met with a Conciliation Officer to work towards a fair deal. No agreement or tentative agreement was reached. The workers are opposed to concessions on sick leave, and seek fair wage increases as well as bringing some employee’s salaries up to market standards. Also in the proposal is a request for a “Remoteness Allowance” similar to that offered to employees in the area Health Authority, R.M. of Kelsey, the local college, and Manitoba Hydro.

“Municipal employees in The Pas are invested in the community” states Al Babey, President of CUPE Local 745, “we are looking for our employer to invest in us, and not demand concessions on our hard-earned sick leave”.

Members of CUPE Local 745 took the vote to show the employer they are serious about protecting their jobs, and urge the community to support them in providing a quality public service to the Town of The Pas.

A meeting with the Conciliation Officer is scheduled for October 9th.

CUPE Manitoba: Take Back the Night

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On September 20, women and men from all walks of life will marched in solidarity with others across Canada and internationally for a dual purpose: to end violence against women and reclaim the streets for all.

This theme recognizes that when women are safe from violence, our streets are safer for all people. Domestic violence, sexual assaults, female homicides and missing and murdered women all reflect a culture which objectifies, disrespects and dishonours the value of women. Violence against women reflects cultural values that perpetuate violence against marginalized people, in all its forms.

The CUPE Manitoba Human Rights Committee was again proud to march side-by-side with our sisters and brothers through the streets of Winnipeg.

Kelly Moist calls for inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women

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On Tuesday, July 11 CUPE Manitoba President Kelly Moist joined other 300 Winnipeg voices in calling for an inquiry into the missing and murdered aboriginal women.

The only representative to speak from the labour movement, Sister Moist shared the stage with aboriginal leaders, municipal and federal politicians and other community leaders in showing their support for an inquiry.

The call for an inquiry has gained recent distinction because of the recent arrest of a Winnipeg man for the murders of 3 young aboriginal women.

 

CUPE Asks Labour Relations Secretariat to Resume Health Care Bargaining

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In a letter to the province of Manitoba’s Labour Relations Secretariat, the CUPE Bargaining Committee asked for negotiations of the CUPE Master Health Care Agreement to resume. CUPE first met with the LRS on May 23rd, 2012 to submit a brief that made the case against a wage freeze for CUPE health care support workers. Future bargaining dates were scheduled for July and August, however these dates were cancelled once the MGEU decided that it would trigger representation votes in the Western, Interlake-Eastern and Southern Regional Health Authorities instead of bargaining.

CUPE Joins With Manitoba Association of Midwives to Launch Awareness Campaign

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Midwives Really Deliver Campaign Will Draw Attention to Midwife Shortages in Manitoba

WINNIPEG – Manitoba Midwives represented by CUPE Local 2348 are launching an awareness campaign to draw attention to the challenges facing the midwifery program in Manitoba.

Midwives and their clients will be featured prominently on Winnipeg Transit buses standing alongside the slogan “Manitoba Midwives Really Deliver”.

“Manitoba midwives are proud of the service we provide to expecting Manitoba families,” said Manitoba Association of Midwives President Megan Wilton, “however the fact that there are so few midwives in Manitoba means that the majority of families who would like a midwife to attend their birth are not able to access our services.  So, today we’re calling on the Manitoba government to do more to address midwife recruitment and retention.”

Demand for midwives is growing across Canada, resulting in a high number of families being denied midwifery services in all provinces. However, recent reports indicate that Manitoba may lead the country in refusal of service as a recent WRHA report says that 75% of pregnant women seeking the care of a midwife are turned away.

“We feel that there are three compelling reasons why the Manitoba government should address the midwifery shortage: higher levels of satisfaction with midwife-led primary care, cost effectiveness and that strong midwifery services will help ease the burden on the health care system allowing specialists to focus on other health care needs,” said CUPE National Representative Sheree Capar.

According to the Canadian Maternity Experiences Survey conducted by the Public Health Agency of Canada (2006), midwives scored higher than all other maternity practitioners in all categories of care.

Increasing evidence also suggests that there are considerable cost-savings associated with care provided by midwives compared to that provided by physicians and other practitioners. Some examples include lower rates of obstetrical interventions such as inductions, instrument-assisted births and Cesareans. This trend leads to decreased length of hospital stay, reducing the demand on overburdened hospital resources while preserving healthy outcomes for women and babies.

“I was unable to access midwifery care in my first pregnancy, despite contacting all the practices in the city”, said new mother Erin Bockstael, “so I was delighted and grateful to work with midwives at the new midwifery-led birth centre in my second pregnancy.”

June 12 marks the 12th anniversary of the Proclamation of the Midwifery Act, the law that recognizes  publicly funded and regulated midwifery in Manitoba.

Health Care Bargaining Update

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On May 23rd, the Provincial Health Care Council (PHCC) Bargaining Committee met with employer representatives from the Regional Health Authorities and Terry Kindrat of the Labour Relations Secretariat. The Bargaining Committee was accompanied by CUPE Regional Director John Lepine, CUPE Researcher Elizabeth Blackwood, CUPE Health Care Coordinator and lead negotiator Nicole Campbell and CUPE National Representative Allen Bleich.

It is uncommon for the Regional Director to appear at the bargaining table; however this is an extraordinary round of bargaining. Therefore the Bargaining Committee felt that it was important for the employer to know that this round of bargaining has the attention of CUPE’s national officers. “As Canada’s largest national union and the major health care union in Manitoba, CUPE is well financed and is prepared to bring whatever resources we can to the table to ensure that we achieve real, tangible improvements for our members,” Lepine told the employer representatives.

Lead negotiator Nicole Campbell reiterated CUPE’s commitment to securing a good collective agreement for Manitoba’s health care workers that is supportive of the work CUPE members do. “Every day, CUPE members perform tasks that are integral components to providing quality care for our loved ones,” said Campbell. “Often this work is undervalued and far too often CUPE members are subjected to disrespect and violence at the workplace. We’ll be fighting for a contract that reflects respect and acknowledges the value of their work, regardless of what might become of the RHA amalgamations.”