Wildfires across Northern Manitoba have led to evacuations and significant disruptions for nurses working in the region. MNU is closely monitoring the situation and continues to advocate for the safety, support, and fair treatment of all affected members.
Many have reached out with questions about income stability during this period. Here’s what you need to know:
IF YOU’VE BEEN EVACUATED
If you’ve been evacuated, the Employer requires you to call: 1-844-306-0040 to discuss your individual plans and options available to you. When calling, follow the prompts as below:
- Option 1: Home Care
- Option 2: Clinical (Flin Flon & The Pas)
- Option 3: Clinical (Thompson)
- Option 4: MAP
More details are outlined in an Employer memo here.
WHAT THE EMPLOYER IS DOING
Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) has declared a state of emergency under Article 10 of the Collective Agreement. This applies to all NRHA-operated sites, facilities, and programs in the northern region. Under this article, nurses may be assigned different duties during an emergency to maintain patient safety, even if those duties fall outside your usual scope of work.
Here’s what the Employer has communicated so far:
- You will receive pay for the 72-hour period following the evacuation order (from May 28 at 4:00 p.m. to May 31 at 4:00 p.m.).
Temporary transfers may be implemented to support facilities where patients and residents have been moved (Article 4204B applies). - If you’ve relocated and want to work in another location, the Employer may explore this option with another facility. You would remain an NRHA employee and be paid by NRHA. However, this is not mandatory, and no additional expenses or compensation will be provided.
- You may request to use vacation or banked time, or take an unpaid leave of absence.
- You may be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits if you're unable to work. Details are outlined in an Employer memo here.
WHAT MNU IS DOING
MNU has been formally notified of the Article 10 declaration, and we are:
- Seeking additional clarity from the Employer regarding expectations for evacuated nurses, including impacts on scheduling, temporary transfers, and compensation.
- Advocating for fair treatment and appropriate compensation, particularly for members who have been reassigned, relocated, or are working under unusual conditions.
- Working to ensure that evacuated nurses are offered opportunities to work in the area they’ve relocated to (or nearby), to help protect their EFT, maintain benefits, and prevent financial disruption.
- Calling on the Employer to extend the same 72-hour income security provision if any further evacuation orders are issued.
- Engaging in discussions with the Employer around broader income security measures, including preserving qualification for the Full Time Salary Enhancement.
- Reserving all rights under the Collective Agreement, including the right to file grievances if Article 10 is applied unfairly or inequitably.
We are in active communication with the Employer and will provide more updates as they become available.
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions, please reach out to your Labour Relations Officer or contact MNU directly at 204-942-1320 or info@manitobanurses.ca.