Nurses reach tentative deal with province

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/05/2010 (4682 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The province’s nurses have reached a tentative agreement for a three-and-a-half year contract with no salary increases for the first two years.

In a statement tonight, Manitoba Nurses Union president Sandi Mowat said “reaching a settlement has been a long and difficult process.

“Our members made it clear to us that they wanted us to address pension issues and to maintain a competitive stance for the recruitment and retention of nurses.”

Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk said “our goal was to protect front-line health services while managing very difficult budgets over the next few years and today we have achieved that.

“By working together with the MNU, we have reached a fair deal that protects front-line services and provides government necessary short-term fiscal predictability while maintaining our long-term sustainability and competitiveness.”

The tentative contract would see nurses get a four per cent salary increase in the third year.

But the contract would see a two per cent lump sum payment at the beginning, a 1.1 per cent pension deficit reduction over two years, and a two per cent long service increment to be paid to nurses with 20 years or more experience. There is also a jointly funded cost of living allowance fund for all health care workers in the Healthcare Employees’ Pension Plan.

Nurses have been working without a contract since Sept. 30. If approved by nurses, this agreement would expire on March 31, 2013.