Unions angry merger votes held during hospital upheaval

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This article was published 14/06/2019 (2468 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba’s health-care unions will compete this summer to represent more than 40,000 workers, as the Progressive Conservative government’s forced amalgamation of bargaining units unfolds.

On Thursday, Robert Pruden, who is overseeing the process, announced the dates of 18 union representation votes from Aug. 8 to 22.

Voting will be preceded by a four-week campaign period, beginning July 11. Ten unions are taking part in the process.

They have unanimously stated in the past that they did not want to have to battle each other for members.

However, the Pallister government enacted legislation last year to drastically reduce the number of health bargaining units across Manitoba from a high of 182 to about 40, saying it would improve the ability of administrators to schedule workers and lead to other efficiencies.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union represents 16,000 health workers who will be involved in the vote: home-care workers, health-care aides, clerical, housekeeping and maintenance workers, among others.

MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky said while there is no good time for the votes to be held, this is an especially challenging period for workers in Winnipeg, where hospital reorganization has created concerns about job security, workloads and, now, which union will represent them.

“Could the premier have put us into any more chaos than what we’re in?” Gawronsky said.

CUPE, which represents 11,600 health workers in Manitoba, took a similar tone.

“The Pallister government is throwing another wrench into an already strained health-care system,” said Shannon McAteer, the union’s health-care co-ordinator.

“Health-care workers across Manitoba deserve a break, yet this government continues to pile on uncertainty, stress and chaos.”

Bob Moroz, president of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, with about 3,000 members involved in the votes, said workers are worried about the effects of hospital reorganization and upset at being told they are going to have to accept wage freezes.

“All these things are happening at the same time, and it’s virtually impossible for people to keep it all straight,” he said.

Marc Lafond, business manager for Operating Engineers of Manitoba Local 987, said: “This vote doesn’t need to happen. Not only is this a waste of taxpayer dollars and union resources, but it is disruptive to everyone working in health care. This is reflective of how our government has been handling Manitoba’s health-care system.”

Most Manitoba health workers, including doctors and nurses, are working without a contract.

All bargaining with health authorities and the province is at a standstill.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca