Article 7A04 of the Central Table Agreement states that employers must have signage which clearly communicates to the public that it will not tolerate abuse of staff in health care facilities. When it became apparent that not all employers were complying with the agreement the MNU sent a letter stating that if signs were not in place by October 31st the union would file a grievance in each facility lacking a sign.

During the 2007 round of Central Table collective bargaining we negotiated language in Article 7A04 that requires the employer to install signage to clearly communicate that there will be zero tolerance of abuse of staff in health care facilities. Such signage was to be installed in public areas of all facilities in every region.

In many instances, facilities moved quickly to install signage. However, some regions have remained non-compliant with the collective agreement.

As of October 1, 2008 nurses in Manitoba will be
fourth across Canada in wages.

Recent discussions with government have resulted in an additional 5% being added to the 5.2% increase that was already in effect October 1. This 10.2% increase, to all classifications of Manitoba nurses, puts us 4th across the country.

MNU President, Sandi Mowat's first few weeks in office have given her the opportunity to meet with nurses in several regions of the province and to see first hand how they meet the challenge of giving quality health care under difficult conditions.

The most recent leg of her Provincial Tour took her to the Burntwood Region, touring facilities and talking to nurses in Thompson, Nelson House and Norway House.

The MNU and employer representatives will meet October 8, 2008 to begin the Interest Arbitration process negotiated in the central table agreement, which will result in Manitoba nurses ranking 4th in wages across Canada.

The wage increase resulting from the process will be retroactive to October 1, 2008. This will be an addition to the increase negotiated in the last round of central table bargaining (5.2% October 1, 2008).

Progress updates will be made regularly.

The dramatic increase in gas prices has had a major impact on public sector workers. Members of our union especially Home Care, Public Health and Community Nurses who use their vehicles daily to deliver care are suffering financial losses.

MNU President Sandi Mowat has been on radio and in the newspaper speaking out on the issue of the recent death of a patient in the HSC waiting room. In an interview on CBC radio, she said that, as a nurse who formerly worked in the HSC E.R., she knows the level of competence and professionalism that the emergency room provides.

Go to "Read more" to see the full article and to hear Sandi Mowat's Interviews.  

More than two hundred people came together Tuesday night to celebrate the career of former Director of Negotiations, Irene Giesbrecht.

MNU President Sandi Mowat began the evening by saying her retirement was a great loss for our union.

"Her experience and talent have been relied upon by the leadership of the MNU for 33 years."