Nurses union files grievance over safety concerns in lots around HSC

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This article was published 02/11/2023 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE Manitoba Nurses Union has filed a grievance with its employer, citing significant safety concerns for its members in parkades and surface parking lots surrounding Health Sciences Centre, a letter obtained by the Free Press shows.

An arbitration hearing is scheduled for early December.

In the letter emailed to nurses Wednesday, the union alleges Shared Health isn’t doing enough to combat unsafe conditions in parkades and surface parking lots around Manitoba’s largest health-care facility.

The union is asking workers to come forward with any reports of physical or verbal assault and vandalism.

“We have heard from many of you about these safety concerns but we want to ensure that we have heard from everybody so the issues can be fully addressed,” the union wrote.

“Has the following happened to you while in a HSC parkade or while outdoors on/near HSC campus? Your car was vandalized or broken into? You were physically or verbally assaulted or witnessed such an assault? Someone has threatened you or made you feel like you were in danger? You have encountered individuals in the parkade using alcohol or drugs? You have encountered individuals loitering or arranging living encampments in the parkade? Any other event or incident when you were made to feel unsafe?” reads the union message to nurses.

HSC is located outside of downtown in the core area of Winnipeg, between the city’s Centennial and William Whyte neighbourhoods.

The area has logged significant increases in vehicle break-ins and property crime over the past year, according to Winnipeg Police Service data.

HSC nurses who spoke to the Free Press in the spring reported feeling unsafe and called for Shared Health to bolster security.

“I feel unsafe all the time,” one nurse said at the time, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “This has been the worst year I have ever experienced at Health Sciences Centre.”

Security presence has increased around the parkades in the area recently, said a nurse when reached by phone Wednesday. She didn’t want to be quoted or named. She said she has experienced a vehicle break-in in the past.

A Shared Health spokesperson said it couldn’t comment Wednesday afternoon, citing the short notice with which the inquiry was received.

However, last spring, Shared Heath told the Free Press security guards patrol all parking locations on hospital property. Security cameras in the parkades are routinely monitored and audits are done regularly to ensure they work properly, a spokesperson said.

The Free Press was unable to reach the nurses union Wednesday.