Unions rally at Deer Lodge Centre to demand repeal of bill that cuts bargaining units

• Bill to cut bargaining units gives commissioner sweeping powers

She said the Manitoba Federation of Labour, in partnership with several unions, had proposed a bargaining council where all unions would work together with the government to negotiate a single collective agreement, but that proposal was ignoredbefore the provincepassedBill 29.

"We're calling on this government to repeal Bill 29 and let these members stay with the union that they chose many, many decades ago,"Hladunsaid.

The majority of health-care workers at Deer Lodge Centre, ahospital for veterans created by the federal government, belong to the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees, a component of PSAC.

Deer Lodge employees and people from other unionsincluding the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees, United Food and Commercial Workers Unionand the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals marched together Tuesdaycarrying colourful flags.

"We'd literally be pitted against each other and we'd have to fight each other for members that have already signed cards that already said we belong to this particular union. Literally it will become a fight," said Carl Gannom, UVAE's national president.

"It's literally disrupting services," he said. "It's disrupting services to Manitobans, it's disrupting services to veterans, it's disrupting services in these facilities."

In a press release, Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen said the changes found in Bill 29 will streamline bargaining units, simplify labour negotiationsand align Manitoba with other provinces with far fewer collective agreements in health care.

"This legislation will lead to a more flexible health system, and improve the quality and consistency of patient care across Manitoba," Goertzensaid.

However, Hladun says the unions' proposal to work together to establish units is a more harmonious solution that would accomplish the same goalsif the government were to repealthe bill:"We're willing to work with them on a solution that will meet their needs as well as ours."

A provincial spokesperson said a date is not yet set for when the changes will begin.