This agreement ensures a standardized process, consistent with the Collective Agreement, for offering additional shifts and overtime to nurses of the same classification across all Employer Organizations in Manitoba. A standardized process for all central table Employers is essential for nurses to be able to pick up available shifts within their Employer's Organization and for the Provincial Travel Nurse Team to be utilized to its maximum potential. It outlines clear steps for scheduling and prioritizing shifts while ensuring equitable access to the Full-Time Hours Salary Enhancement.

Here’s what you need to know:

Standardized Shift Allocation

  • A consistent process will be followed across all health regions and Shared Health facilities.
  • Nurses will be prioritized based on the same classification and status when awarding additional available shifts (AUA) and unanticipated additional available shifts (UAA).
  • Layoff, part-time, casual plus nurses (see definition below), and casual (see definition below) site nurses, as well as Provincial Travel Nurse Team (PTNT) nurses of the same classification will have structured access to shifts before agency nurses are considered.
  • The scheduling process for overtime shifts will follow an established priority system.

Your Role in Securing Additional Hours

  • To ensure nurses are considered for additional available shifts, nurses should inform their employer of their interest in extra shifts to qualify for the Salary Enhancement.
  • Employers are obligated to provide clear guidelines on how to communicate availability, including deadlines and required formats.
  • The Employer is obligated to provide a centralized system that will allow nurses to view and apply for available shifts within their Employer Organization (Shared Health/Winnipeg geographical locations can apply to cross over Employer Organizations (EO) in the Winnipeg Region for additional available shifts, example – HSC nurses can apply for shifts at Victoria Hospital and vice versa.).
  • The Employer must provide nurses with reasonable opportunity to be informed of any shortfall in qualifying hours and provide reasonable opportunity to access the flexibility provisions to maintain qualification for the FTSE.

Shift Prioritization Process

  1. Anticipated Unscheduled Available Shifts (AUA):
    • Shifts are assigned in a structured order, starting with laid-off nurses within three years of layoff, with all other categories of MNU nurses being considered before Agency (see MOA #4 a. through p. for details on structure of order for MNU nurses).
    • If shifts remain unfilled, voluntary reassignment or overtime may be considered before agency nurses.
  2. Unanticipated Additional Available Shifts (UAA):
    • These shifts follow a similar process, ensuring laid-off and part-time nurses of the same classification are prioritized.
    • If shifts remain open, voluntary reassignments and overtime may be considered before agency nurses.
  3. Overtime Shifts:
    • Overtime shifts will be offered equitably within the scheduling period, prioritizing full-time and part-time nurses of the same classification first.
    • If needed, casual site nurses and casual plus nurses may be considered.
    • The Employer will follow existing practices when contacting nurses for overtime shifts.

Salary Enhancement Protections

  • If an Employer’s scheduling error leads to a nurse missing a shift that would have qualified for Salary Enhancement, a reasonable opportunity to make up the lost hours will be provided.
  • If no such opportunity is offered, nurses can use flexibility provisions in the Salary Enhancement MOU to maintain eligibility.
  • If shifts were mistakenly awarded to agency nurses instead of MNU nurses, grievance and arbitration procedures apply.

Ongoing Review and Adjustments

  • The MNU and Employer will review the shift selection process to ensure fairness, especially for nurses in the Provincial Travel Nurse Team (PTNT).
  • The shift scheduling process will be evaluated regularly to ensure its effectiveness and address any discrepancies.
  • Any errors in shift assignments will be handled with a focus on quality improvement.

Implementation Timeline

  • The standardized process will be in place by April 1, 2025.
  • A review of shift selection for PTNT nurses of the same classification will be completed by October 1, 2025, with adjustments implemented promptly.
  • Discussions will take place to allow Shared Health nurses to pick up shifts in rural areas without affecting their Salary Enhancement eligibility.

This agreement ensures a clear and consistent process for awarding additional shifts and overtime while maximizing opportunities for nurses of the same classification to access the Salary Enhancement. MNU remains committed to advocating for fair scheduling practices and ensuring all shifts are distributed equitably before considering agency nurses.

Check the attached MOA for full details, and if you have questions, reach out to your Worksite President or LRO.

Definitions

  • Casual Nurse: A nurse who only holds casual position(s) and does not have a full or part-time position with any Employer in their Employer Organization.
  • Casual Plus Nurse: A casual nurse who also holds a part-time position with another Employer in the Employer Organization.