Some 18,000 health-care support workers in Manitoba have ratified a new collective agreement that includes pay raises.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says its members have voted in favour of the deal reached earlier his month.

It covers workers in many areas, including the southern, northern and Winnipeg regional health authorities.

The seven-year deal is retroactive to 2017 and contains annual wage hikes that total 9.6 per cent.

Pay bumps expected for 18,000 health-care support workers after Manitoba union reaches tentative new deal

The union for 18,000 health-care support workers in Manitoba has reached a new tentative agreement with their employers after more than five years without a deal. 

Members of CUPE 204 picketed outside Saint Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg on Friday, June 3, 2022. Five years have elapsed since workers received a new contract.

CUPE 204 Picketing2

Members of CUPE 204 picketed outside St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg in June to protest their lack of a contract. 

Manitoba health-care support workers want new deal after 5 years without a contract

A group of health-care support workers were outside a Winnipeg hospital Friday, brandishing picket signs and calling on the provincial government to help facilitate a new contract for them, complete with retroactive pay.

Debbie Boissonneault, president of CUPE 204, joined support workers on the picket lines outside of Saint Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg on Friday, June 3, 2022.

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Debbie Boissonneault, president of CUPE Local 204, joined support workers on the picket lines outside of Saint Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg on Friday.

The union says there is also a signing bonus, an increase in pay for people who work nights and weekends, and improvements to family sick leave.

The union says the negotiations were difficult, dating back to when the provincial government tried to impose a wage freeze on public-sector workers.

Unions hope to take fight against province's wage freeze to Supreme Court

Public-sector unions in Manitoba hope to appeal a court ruling that said the government had a right to impose a wage freeze on more than 100,000 workers.

A statue holding a sword stands in front of a clocktower in Ottawa.

Veritas (Truth) guards the entrance of the Supreme Court of Canada as the Peace tower is seen in the background in an April 25, 2014 photo in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

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Veritas (Truth) guards the entrance of the Supreme Court of Canada with the Peace tower in the background in 2014. The Manitoba Federation of Labour hopes the Supreme Court will hear their case against a provincial bill that imposed a two-year wage freeze on the public sector.

Members of CUPE 204 picketed outside St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg on June 3, 2022. On Friday, the union said its members ratified a new collective agreement, after five years without a new contract.

Manitoba health-care support workers ratify new contract that includes pay bump, signing bonus

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