Strike possible after Manitoba health-care support workers reject tentative deal

Thousands of Manitoba health-care workers have rejected a new labour agreement, setting the stage for a potential strike.

A member update from the Canadian Union of Public Employees on Thursday saidsupport workers with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Shared Health and Southern Healthrejected a tentative contract offer reached in late July.

They include facility and community workers at Winnipeg's Riverview Health Centre.

Facility support workers with Southern Health voted to accept the deal. CUPE local 8600 workers in the Northern Regional Health Authority also voted yes to the new agreement.

The current contract for the workers expired in March and had been in place for seven years. The members voted last week on whether to approve the new deal. The union did not release a breakdown of the vote.

The four-yeardeal is similar to what other unions have reached and includes, after adding a one per cent market adjustment, a 12.85 per cent compounded wage increase.

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The support workershave some of the lowest wages in health care. The hourly wagefor some staff isless than $20.

In the Northern health region, where the deal was accepted, the agreement includes thewage increaseas well as increases related to northern retention and salary incentives, along with increased vacation allowances,the union said.

The support workers CUPE represents include health-care aides, home-care attendants and dietary and clerical staff.

The rejection of the tentative contract sends the union back to the bargaining table with a strike mandate. In its bulletin, the union said only workers who rejected the deal could potentially wind up on strike.

"No strike date has been set yet," the union told membersin bold letters. "But rest assured, with your strike mandate, CUPE is going all-in at the table."

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In an email Friday, CUPE spokesperson David Jacks said the dates of Sept. 5 and 10 have been confirmed for bargaining to continue.

The union represents 18,000 health support workers in the province. Community support workers include those providing hands-on care such ashealth-care aides, home care attendants, rehabilitation aides and recreation aides, Jacks said.

Facility support workers includelaundry andhousekeeping aides, unit clerks, maintenance workers and security guards, he said.

A spokesperson for Shared Health said in an emailed statement it appreciates the dedication of its staff and is working with the union to determine next steps

CBC News has alsorequested comment from theWinnipeg Regional Health Authority and Southern Health.