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Striking Nisichawayasihk personal care home workers ratify new two-year agreement

Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) Local 367 at the Nisichawyasihk Cree Nation (NCN) personal care home are back on regular duty after ratifying a new two-year contract Dec. 15. The workers had gone on strike Nov.

Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) Local 367 at the Nisichawyasihk Cree Nation (NCN) personal care home are back on regular duty after ratifying a new two-year contract Dec. 15.

The workers had gone on strike Nov. 28 seeking pay equity with similarly trained workers at other personal care homes in Manitoba.

Their new contract includes a 10 per cent raise in the first year retroactive to the expiry of the previous contact last March 31. The second year of the new agreement will see them receive a three per cent raise.

The strike did not achieve the workers’ goal of pay equity with other personal care home workers in Manitoba but did significantly close the gap, says MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky.

“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 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 agreement will go about halfway to addressing the inequity in pay between Nelson House health care support workers and workers in places like Thompson. 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.”

NCN Chief Marcel Moody said in a Nov. 9 news release that he has been in contact with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) regarding the funding crisis that led to the 18-day strike and that those efforts as well as attempts to convince the provincial government to help provide adequate funding have been unsuccessful. Moody said he agreed with the union that its members should get paid the same as other personal care home workers but that the NCN personal care home doesn’t have the funding it needs to do so.

Gawronsky says the federal government needs to come through on election campaign commitments to ensure adequate funding for First Nations.

“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.”

The Thompson Labour Committee donated $300 to the striking workers the day before the strike ended.

“We know how tough it is as days turn to weeks on the line, especially at this time of year,” said Thompson Labour Committee president Wayne Levac in a press release. “These workers are on the job day and night, on the front line of health care in their community, and our affiliates want to do whatever we can to support their fight for fairness.”

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