Members of the Nisichawayasihk Personal Care Home – Local 367 voted to ratify a new two-year collective agreement with the employer today.
The workers, who provide round-the-clock elder care in Nelson House, had been on strike since Monday, November 28 over the fact they earn significantly less than other workers in Manitoba who have the same training and do the same job.
“These members have been fighting to address this disparity for years and given their deep concern for their elders, only took job action as a last resort,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “In the end, while the employer was not able to offer all we need to fully address the disparity, this new deal is a big step towards reaching equity.”
The new collective agreement includes a ten percent wage increase in the first year of the agreement, rectroactive to the expiry of the previous contract nearly nine months ago, and a three percent wage increase in the second year.
“The new agreement will go about halfway to addressing the inequity in pay between Nelson House health care support workers and workers in places like Thompson,” Gawronsky said. “This is a significant move forward and the employer has also committed to working with us to secure the necessary funds to achieve wage parity in the near future.”
Both the union and employer point to the Federal government as key to fully rectifying the problem.
“When it comes down to it, this is about the need for stable, predictable funding for our First Nations communities,” said Gawronsky. “In order for our members to be paid fairly and equitably, our Federal government needs to step up and adequately fund First Nations personal care homes like Nisichawayasihk.”
With the new agreement ratified, members will be back on the job by tonight.
“I know our members are profoundly relieved that they’ll be there, caring for their elders, over the holidays,” Gawronsky said.