The MGEU welcomes its newest members this week — WRHA Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) – Local 452 — who work at a number of Access Centres throughout Winnipeg.
“We ended up choosing the MGEU over other unions out there because for one, they seemed the most responsive and ultimately followed up with us,” said Cheryl Friesen, whose been working as an SLP in Manitoba for 30 years. “I think that as a bigger union, we also felt they had a lot more to offer when it came to services, like specialists in pension and benefits, communications, research…for the same dues, you could get more for your dollar.”
Though entirely Manitoba-based, the MGEU is largest union in the province, with over 40,000 members, 17,000 of whom work within our health care system.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these health care professionals to the MGEU,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “By joining together with so many other Manitobans who provide a range of vital public services, members of Local 452 will now have access to the MGEU’s over 30 million dollar Defense Fund, which allows us to be a tireless advocate for all of our Locals, big or small. Plus with all the changes, cuts and confusion throughout our health system right now, being able to speak up as one, strong voice becomes more important than ever.”
Local 452 members provide a range of speech-language pathology services to pre-school children with speech and language delays. They join more than 3,000 MGEU Technical, Professional, Paramedical members and will have an opportunity to vote in the upcoming Bill 29 union representation votes.