Health-care workers run tests on a patient in the emergency department at a hospital in Winnipeg on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mikaela MacKenzie-POOL)
WINNIPEG — Unions representing around 25,000 health care support workers in Manitoba have served notice that they will go on strike next month, unless a fair settlement is reached before then.
The workers, represented by CUPE and MGEU, include health care aides, dietary aides, laundry workers, ward clerks, and others from hospitals, personal care homes, and the home care program.
“If Manitoba is serious about fixing health care, it will need to resolve the health care staffing crisis, and that means paying fair and competitive wages for health care support workers,” said CUPE president Gina McKay.
“Health care jobs that were once seen as highly desirable are just not competitive anymore. The result is increasing staff vacancy rates that are negatively affecting patients and residents.”
Union leaders argue that low wages (starting at $17.07/hour) are contributing to a staffing crisis, impacting patient care. Both unions have prepared for a strike, but say they remain ready to negotiate for a fair deal before the deadline.
If a fair settlement isn’t reached by October 8, 2024, the unions say workers will hit the picket line.
