The union for 18,000 support workers have reached a tentative contract deal with four health authorities.
“We are pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement that we can present to our members, and we believe the tentative agreement is fair and reasonable,” said Shannon McAteer of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, in a statement Wednesday.
The workers are employed by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Shared Health, Southern Health and the Northern Regional Health Authority.
CUPE says the four-year deal includes general wage increases, marker adjustments and improvements to contract language.
It was reached after four months of negotiations, which the union said is in stark contrast to the 21 months it took to hammer out a deal with employers under the previous Progressive Conservative government. That deal expired in March.
“These negotiations are led by front-line health workers who dedicate themselves to serving the community as well as their co-workers,” added Gina McKay, president of CUPE Manitoba.
CUPE members will be informed about the details in the next few weeks and will vote on the contract from Aug. 20 to 22.
In Manitoba, CUPE has 37,000 members who work in places such as health facilities, care homes, home care, school divisions, municipal services.
— Free Press staff