Health-care support worker strike likely, union president says
Global News
Union president Kyle Ross says Manitoba's health-care support workers are far from a contract agreement with health authorities and the wages are a sticking point in the talks.
One of the unions representing Manitoba’s health-care support workers says its members will likely go on strike Tuesday at 6 a.m.
Kyle Ross, president of the Manitoba General Employees Union, says he was at the bargaining table along with CUPE today, and the the unions are far from an agreement with the health authorities.
The key issue is money. The union says some health-care support workers — which include health-care aides, housekeeping aides, maintenance workers, and home-care workers — are paid as little as $17.07 an hour, which is less than any other support workers in Canada.
Ross says workers feel disrespected after years of health care cuts under the the former PC provincial government and a lack of change under the current government.
“They’re not feeling appreciated for what they do,” Ross says. “They’re working double shifts. They’re working all this overtime because there’s no one to do the work, because no one will take up the job at $17.07. So, we have to find ways to recruit workers, and that means being competitive in the market.”
Both parties still hope to avert the strike, but agreements are in place to keep essential services running if that happens. Shared Health says patients in greatest need will be prioritized, with live-saving and high-priority surgeries continuing as normal. Cancer treatments will go ahead on schedule, and Shared Health hopes to maintain diagnostic testing at near-normal levels.
An estimated 250 elective surgeries per week could be postponed, and the hours may change at outpatient clinics.
Dr. Jose Francois, chief medical officer at Shared Health, says people will move through hospitals more slowly and some people may have to wait longer in emergency rooms or urgent care to be admitted while others wait to be discharged.
Police say an 81-year-old woman is dead following a dog attack involving three dogs who attacked her inside her own residence, in Northern Ontario.
King was a prominent figure in the demonstration that rolled into the national capital in 2022, which saw protesters entrench themselves in downtown Ottawa for three weeks.
Dermo, which has been detected in Canada for the first time, has spread from oyster to oyster in New Brunswick.
The latest draft negotiating text released Friday pledged $250 billion by 2035, less than a quarter of what developing countries requested.
The officials say Ottawa will be chipping in $108.5 million over the next three years to Ontario’s existing Student Nutrition Program and First Nations Student Nutrition Program.
A mother who was struck by a vehicle, along with the father and three other children, has now died from her injuries in hospital just over a month after the collision.
Erin McQueen believes her tools were stolen on Nov.16 while her truck was parked in Kelowna near Ellis Street and Clement Avenue.
"I am fighting for my daughter." How one Regina family is looking to the community to help raise money for a potentially live saving trip to the United States.
Kingston hosts the 59th Vanier Cup, featuring Laval vs. Laurier, promising excitement, economic impact, and family-friendly events. Full details on the big game.
Saskatchewan has been battling an increase in overdoses for many years. But based on recent data, Saskatchewan’s response to drug toxicity may be working.
A council representing Montreal and the suburban municipalities will vote on whether to stop the practice in the six West Island suburbs that treat their water with fluoride.