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New 4-year agreement reached for EMS workers in Southern and Prairie regions; members in Interlake-Eastern will return to the bargaining table to resolve outstanding issues.
Winnipeg (20 May 2016) — After almost 2 years at the bargaining table, technical, professional and emergency services members of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) who work for the Regional Health Authority Central Manitoba in three regions as well as at the Medical Transportation Coordination Centre, have ratified a new 4-year contract. MGEU members in the Southern and Prairie regions voted to accept the collective agreement, while the MGEU members in Interlake-Eastern region rejected the employer’s final offer.
Negotiations pushed wage parity forward but more work needs to be done
“This was another long and frustrating round of negotiations. It took months for the employer to receive a mandate, and once they did, it wasn’t long before we were final offered,” says MGEU President, Michelle Gawronsky. “Although wage increases were achieved in each year of the agreement, and headway was made regarding EMS wage parity, the Bargaining Committee was often frustrated and disappointed by the lack of attention paid to a number of important issues put forward by members. There is still a lot of work to be done.”
Workers within the bargaining unit include home care case coordinators and resource coordinators, community health workers, paramedics and 911 operators. Those operators, who work at the Medical Transportation Coordination Centre in Brandon, voted separately and ratified the offer on April 19.
All other members within the bargaining unit voted on the offer over the past month, and their ballots were counted today.
MGEU/NUPGE members in the Interlake-Eastern group will return to bargaining table
Because the Interlake-Eastern group rejected the offer, bargaining representatives will be contacting the employer and requesting that the two sides return to the table.
For all other groups who ratified the offer, the union has requested that the employers process and dispense retroactive pay to members as soon as possible. The regional health authorities have up to 60 days from the date of ratification to provide members with retro pay.
Once the contract is finalized, signed and printed, copies will be distributed to members. Any member of the bargaining unit who has recently changed their home address, is encouraged to update their contact information to ensure they receive a copy.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE