Shared Health memo to nurses rankles union

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This article was published 10/06/2021 (1197 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After Manitoba nurses voted to strike, their largest employer issued a staff memo to say certain contentious issues cannot be settled through arbitration.

More than 11,950 nurses voted 98 per cent in favour of a strike Thursday after being without a contract for four years. The labour dispute hinges on fair compensation and commitments to recruit and retain more nurses, and the Manitoba Nurses Union held the strike vote as a way to force the employer into binding arbitration if bargaining stalls.

A strike action hasn’t been called, but in a June 10 memo, Shared Health Chief Nursing Officer Lanette Siragusa emphasized that essential services agreements are in place to keep the health-care system going in the event of a strike. The memo referenced proposals the employer has made during bargaining and said Shared Health also wants to see a fair, long-term contract for nurses.

“Our goal remains finalizing a new, fair and long-term collective agreement with Manitoba nurses. We are working hard toward this goal and are fully committed to ongoing bargaining. This includes a commitment to achieving the operational improvements we all recognize are needed – for better patient care and better balance between work and life. These are details that will be extremely difficult to properly address in arbitration, but that will make a difference in our care of patients and are support for nurses,” the memo stated.

In a subsequent email to union members Friday, union president Darlene Jackson described the memo as “an attempt by the employers/government side to redeem their reputation.” The union wants the employer to agree to arbitration if bargaining reaches an impasse.

“The notion that certain issues cannot be considered at arbitration is simply untrue,” Jackson’s email to members said.

One of the proposals being considered, according to Shared Health’s memo, is higher shift-premium pay for emergency department nurses at the busiest hospitals.

One Winnipeg ER nurse who spoke to the Free Press Friday on the condition of anonymity said it’s not just about the money. Recruitment is a major point of contention.

“I’m thinking about the strike action being completely necessary if our province wants to see any kind of responsible health-care system moving forward. This has to happen. This is a massive, massive move that nurses are making in the middle of a pandemic to say I’m going to be willing to lessen some of the work I’m doing to support my patients, not because I want more money, but because I don’t want my family members to have to be cared for under this kind of system,” the nurse said.

If a strike does happen, the union has said it will be in the form of rotating stop-work action in various areas of the province. Nurses will still fulfil essential duties but they won’t pick up non-essential work such as answering phones.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemay

Shared Health memo