February 20, 2026, WINNIPEG, MB – Nurses at St. Boniface Hospital have voted overwhelmingly (94%) in favour of grey listing the facility, citing the Employer’s ongoing failure to address critical safety concerns. It is the third Manitoba hospital in less than one year to take this step, underscoring the growing demand from nurses that workplace safety be treated as a priority.
Nurses have long raised concerns about violence, inadequate security measures, and staffing pressures that undermine safe care. They say those concerns have not been met with the level of action required to create meaningful, lasting change.
“St. Boniface nurses have spoken with one voice,” said Darlene Jackson, President of the Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU). “They are done working in an environment where serious safety concerns are acknowledged but not resolved. It cannot continue to be the same shift, different day when it comes to violence and unsafe conditions.”
As a major healthcare facility serving Winnipeg and surrounding communities, St. Boniface Hospital has a responsibility to protect the staff who deliver care within its walls. Nurses are calling for stronger protections, a workplace culture that values their safety and well-being, and concrete action to address patient care pressures through the implementation of appropriate staffing ratios.
“Nurses will no longer accept empty promises,” Jackson continued. “The Employer now has a clear opportunity to meet the reasonable conditions set by nurses. The decision to lift the grey list rests entirely with them. Our members are not asking for the impossible. They are asking for a safe workplace and the supports needed to provide safe patient care.”
The grey list vote reflects the collective resolve of nurses who are demanding accountability and measurable improvements. MNU will continue to stand with St. Boniface nurses and advocate for enforceable solutions that protect staff and strengthen patient care across Manitoba’s healthcare system.
MNU remains committed to advocating for the safety, dignity, and well-being of its members. We will continue to work diligently toward substantive solutions that enhance safety and working conditions in all healthcare facilities across the province.
MNU represents more than 13,000 nurses across the province, advocating for fair wages, better working conditions, and quality patient care. Since 1975, MNU has been a bold voice for nurses, providing support and pushing for a stronger healthcare system. Learn more at manitobanurses.ca.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Brandi Johnson
Senior Manager of Communications and External Relations
Phone: 204-226-9803
Email: bjohnson@manitobanurses.ca