Remote Work Works

Wear black every Wednesday to show your support for restoring remote work Wednesdays at Manitoba Hydro.

CUPE 998 is joining AMHSSE and MHPEA in a joint campaign to send a clear, united message: Remote Work Works! Click link below

WEAR BLACK ON WEDNESDAY 

JOIN THE REMOTE WORK WORKS CAMPAIGN

Employees across Manitoba Hydro have consistently demonstrated the ability to deliver high-quality, reliable service to the people of Manitoba while working remotely.

Hybrid work supports productivity, reduces corporate overhead costs, lowers carbon emissions, and promotes employee well-being. It is also an excellent tool to help recruit new employees to join the Manitoba Hydro team. The flexible work model is often cited by Hydro employees as being a reason to stay with Hydro as an employer.

This move could also set a detrimental precedent in other provincial agencies, snowballing into a systemic recruitment and retention crisis.

We are asking our members to call on the Hydro Board and our Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro to restore the strong hybrid work model that has made Manitoba Hydro an efficient service to Manitobans, and an attractive place to work.

 This is a joint campaign by CUPE 998, AMHSSE and MHPEA that will go out to all our members.

 Once you click Start Writing, the standard letter is editable, you can add to it or send it as is. 

 Click the link below to have your voices heard !

 https://cupe.ca/remoteworkworks

Myths vs Facts  Click link below

REMOTE WORK WORKS

Reminder: CUPE 998 General Membership Meeting ( Hydro)

CUPE 998 members are reminded of our upcoming Virtual General Membership Meeting ( Hydro CUPE Members)

Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Online via Zoom

Please make time to attend, hear important union updates, ask questions, and take part in discussions affecting your workplace and your Local.

Advance registration is required. The registration email was sent to members’ home email addresses on October 8, 2026. Please check your inbox, including your spam and junk folders, for the invitation and registration link.

Please register in advance through Zoom.

Once registered, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting.

Efficiency Manitoba members: Your General Membership Meeting will be scheduled shortly. A separate communication with the meeting details and registration information will be sent to the Efficiency Manitoba membership once arrangements are confirmed.

Your voice matters. We look forward to your participation!

Stay Connected

CUPE 998 reminds members that all union email communications are sent exclusively to your home email address, please check your junk and spam folders, so you don’t miss important notices, meeting invitations and union updates.

To help ensure our emails reach you, add CUPE 998 to your safe senders list.

Has your home email address changed, or not receiving our emails? You can update your email address using the “Sign Up for Email” button on our website, or contact the union to confirm your information is current.

Please also check the CUPE 998 website regularly. Not every update posted on the website is sent by email. Visiting the website is an important way to stay informed about union news, workplace issues and upcoming meetings.

Stay connected. Stay informed.

 

Celebrating 60 Years of CUPE Local 998 in Brandon

It was a wonderful day in Brandon on Friday Oct 9th as CUPE Local 998 President and Executive members gathered with our Brandon members to celebrate our Local’s 60th Anniversary!
We enjoyed a great lunch, meaningful conversations, and the opportunity to connect with the members who make our union strong.
Congratulations to the winners of our CUPE Anniversary jackets and a special thank you to Sheila Delaurier.
60 years of solidarity, advocacy, and standing together for our members! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us.
Your continued support and commitment are what make CUPE Local 998 such a strong and proud union.
Here’s to celebrating our history, recognizing our members, and continuing to build a stronger future together!
We look forward to seeing our members in Selkirk on Oct 20th.
Efficiency Manitoba will be scheduled shortly.

Flu Season: Protect Yourself and Your Coworkers

As flu season approaches, CUPE Local 998 reminds members that taking care of your health also helps protect your coworkers, families and community.

Manitoba Health encourages an annual flu vaccination. Visit Manitoba’s flu information page for vaccine eligibility and locations.

Small steps can help reduce the spread of illness:

Stay home when you are sick. Notify your supervisor through the usual absence reporting process and give yourself time to recover.

Wash your hands regularly or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow.

Consider wearing a well-fitting mask in shared indoor spaces, particularly if you cannot avoid contact with others while sick.

Keep frequently touched surfaces clean and support good ventilation wherever possible.

A healthy workplace requires support from the employer, too. CUPE 998 encourages management to support employees who need time to recover, maintain clean shared spaces and address ventilation concerns.

If you have questions about sick leave, requests for medical documentation or how an illness-related absence is being handled, contact CUPE 998 for guidance.

Taking time to recover helps protect everyone. Let’s look after ourselves and each other this flu season.

Sick Notes – New Rules Effective Oct 1, 2026

Manitoba’s new rules restricting employers from asking workers to get “sick notes” for short-term illness absences from work will come into effect on October 1.

Starting Oct 1, Employers will not be allowed to request sick notes for short term absences from work unless a worker misses:

  • more than a consecutive week of work; or
  • more than a total of 10 scheduled workdays in a given calendar year, even if those days are spread out.

If/when employers do request sick notes outside of the restricted periods, they will be required to reimburse workers for the cost.

(Note that the new rules do not apply to medical documentation that may be requested related to mat/pat leave or to work accommodations / safe return to work plans after longer-term absences.)

These new restrictions on employers will take a lot of pressure off workers and off our overburdened health care system. We commend the government for putting these new rules in place – the strongest and most worker-friendly rules restricting sick notes in the country.

Read more here