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CUPE Bargaining Update – Hydro

On April 11, 2025, the CUPE Bargaining Team presented our final offer to Manitoba Hydro. The Corporation did not respond until April 30, 2025. Following their response, CUPE sought further clarification regarding their position. The Corporation provided that clarification on May 5, 2025.

At this time, the Local is carefully reviewing the information and determining next steps. We are also engaging in discussions with other key stakeholders and will be scheduling meetings with the membership in the near future.

Our top priority remains securing a fair and equitable collective agreement—one that reflects the dedication, contributions, and value of CUPE members. We deeply appreciate your patience throughout this extended process. Please know that we remain firmly committed to achieving a contract that meets the needs and expectations of our members.

Thank you for your ongoing support and solidarity.

 In Solidarity,
Your CUPE Bargaining Team
Michelle Bergen, Jonny Maria, Jason Paintin, Gord Meneer, Natalie Sinclair & Michael Crowley

CUPE Audits

On May 6th the external audit done by the Exchange Group was completed and on May 8th the Internal Audit was completed by our trustees. Results will be presented at the next General Membership meeting in June.

National Day of Mourning

Please join CUPE Local 998 as well as other unions from across Manitoba for the Manitoba Federation of Labour and Safe Workers of Tomorrow in marking the National Day of Mourning on April 28, 2025.

The Leaders’ Walk will begin at 11:30 am, leaving from the Union Centre and proceeding down Broadway to the Workers Memorial at Memorial Park (across from the Legislature). CUPE Local 998 will provide flags to carry for this event.

A Day of Mourning Ceremony will be held at the Workers Memorial beginning at Noon and concluding with a Vigil for Fallen Workers.

Please feel free to put the poster up in your workplace.

International Transgender Day of Visibility and The Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility in Manitoba

Join Local 998 and Union Activists from across Manitoba for the International Transgender Day of Visibility

Union Center at 275 Broadway will be holding a Flag Raising Ceremony at 10:00am in recognition of Transgender Visibility 

The International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 by Rachel Crandall-Crocker a trans activist, psychotherapist and executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Transgender Michigan. Rachel wanted a reason to come together and feel joy with other members of the trans community. “I wanted a day that we could focus on the living,” Crandall-Crocker said. “And where we could have rallies all as one community all the way around the world.”

On May 30, 2024, The Two-Spirit and Transgender Day of Visibility Act was passed in the Manitoba legislature designating March 31 an annual day to recognize two-spirit and transgender persons. The bill was brought forward by Logan Oxenham MLA for Kirkfield Park in Winnipeg and Canada’s first transgender politician elected to provincial, territorial or federal office.

“Two-Spirit” and “Trans” identities are intertwined with Indigenous cultures and the LGBTQ+ movement, with “Two-Spirit” emerging as a term in 1990 to describe Indigenous people who embody both masculine and feminine spirits, while “Trans” is a broader term for individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. We also recognize that these identities and many other gender nonconforming identities have existed throughout recorded history and beyond.

Two-Spirit:

  • Origins:

The term “Two-Spirit” emerged in 1990 at the Third Annual Inter-Tribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg, coined by Elder Myra Laramee to describe Indigenous people who embody both masculine and feminine spirits.

  • Traditional Roles:

In many Indigenous cultures, Two-Spirit people held important social and spiritual roles, often as healers, visionaries, and community leaders, and were respected for their ability to bridge the gap between genders.

  • Colonial Impact:

European colonization and the imposition of Western gender norms led to the suppression of Two-Spirit identities and roles, with many Two-Spirit people facing discrimination and marginalization.

  • Contemporary Significance:

Today, “Two-Spirit” is an umbrella term used by some Indigenous people to describe their gender, sexual, and spiritual identity, and it is a way to reclaim and celebrate Indigenous traditions and identities.

  • Not a Universal Term:

Two-Spirit is a pan-Indigenous term, and not all Indigenous cultures use it or have the same understanding of it. Many Indigenous cultures have their own specific terms and concepts for gender-nonconforming people.

 Trans:

  • Broad Term:

“Trans” is a broader term used to describe individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, encompassing a wide range of identities, including transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer.

  • Historical Context:

The concept of gender variance has existed in many cultures throughout history, but the term “transgender” emerged in the late 20th century to describe individuals who identify as a gender different from their assigned sex.

  • Struggle for Recognition:

Trans people have historically faced discrimination and marginalization, and the struggle for recognition and acceptance continues today.

  • Intersectionality:

Trans identities intersect with other identities, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status, and trans people of color, Two-Spirit people, and other marginalized groups experience unique forms of discrimination.

  • Advocacy and Activism:

Trans people have played a significant role in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, advocating for their rights and challenging gender norms.

Additional resources:

CUPE’s Bargaining Beyond the Binary: A negotiating guide for trans inclusion and gender diversity.

CUPE’s info sheet on Pronouns and Gender Diversity.

Truth and reconciliation: CUPE taking action through collective bargaining

Canadian Labour Congress Workers in Transition Guide

 

A Message from Manitoba Federation of Labour President -Protecting Manitoban Jobs

Dear Sisters, Brothers and Friends,

Workers are rightly worried about the impacts of Donald Trump’s boneheaded tariffs. This is the latest step backwards by America, following Trump’s attacks on public servants, his elimination of employment equity, and his obsession with discriminating against trans people.

The Manitoba Federation of Labour will continue to push for government to first and foremost protect Manitoba jobs in response to these tariffs. Manitoba needs to invest in hiring Manitoba workers and building our province through stimulus spending on shovel-ready infrastructure in order to offset economic impacts in the private sector. The trend of seeing out of province license plates on construction sites needs to come to an end.

We need to ensure that taxpayer-funded business supports are tied to protecting and creating jobs, not money grabs that boost corporate profits.

At the federal level, the EI system needs to be expanded to help workers in this moment – including job sharing and other targeted supports. The federal government should also create new income supports for impacted workers who are unable to qualify for EI.

We must continue to defend and enhance our public services, which people will be counting on even more now. This has to include strengthening our social safety net.

As we focus on buying local, let’s ensure we are hiring local too and supporting good union jobs in our province. Manitobans are looking for ways to support their local economy more than ever right now, and the MFL maintains a Buy Local, Buy Union web page. This page is populated entirely by unionized employers that have been provided to us by MFL affiliates. While several unionized sites are listed on this page, we know that there are more out there.

I am asking for your help in building this page up so that we can highlight the great opportunities for Manitobans to buy local and buy union. Please review your union’s listings on this page by selecting “Choose a Union” on the left side of the page and let us know what unionized suppliers need to be added to our database by filling out the form at the bottom of the page.

I know that Manitobans will stand strong and help each other as we face these threats from the bully currently occupying the White House, just as we do when we stand together to fight a flood or give someone’s car a boost in the winter. Working together is the Manitoba way. Please keep us informed of how your members are being impacted by these tariffs so that we can target our asks and campaign work to meet your needs.

In Solidarity,

Kevin Rebeck
President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour

Jan 22, is Bell Lets Talk – Recognizing Mental Health

Bell Let’s Talk is a year round initiative committed to driving positive change by investing in mental health projects and programs and putting a spotlight on mental health through Bell Let’s Talk Day – Canada’s annual day for mental health is Jan 22.

This year, the campaign highlights the progress that has been made and discusses what still needs to be done to support those with mental health challenges, including Canada’s youth who are facing a growing mental health crisis ….. read more here 

Mental health is the cornerstone of overall well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and act in our daily lives. It encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social state, profoundly impacting our relationships, work performance, and overall quality of life. Just as we prioritize physical health through exercise and nutrition, nurturing our mental health is equally essential. It empowers us to cope with life’s challenges, build resilience, and maintain a sense of balance and fulfillment. Recognizing the significance of mental health not only fosters personal growth but also strengthens communities and societies as a whole, promoting empathy, understanding, and support for those struggling with mental health issues. By prioritizing mental health awareness, destigmatizing discussions around it, and advocating for accessible resources and support systems, we pave the way for a healthier, more compassionate environment.

If you or someone you know is struggling, here’s where to get help:

Manitoba Hydro offers the following : EGRAM Article

  • EAP – Employee Assistance Program
  • The yearly amount for mental health practitioners $3,000 per person, per year.
  • The list of eligible mental health practitioners is expanding. Instead of just psychologists, you will also be covered for care from registered counsellors, certified clinical counsellors, psychoanalysts, psychotherapists, social workers, and family, marriage, and sex counsellors.
  • Coverage for addictions treatment, to a lifetime total of $30,000 per person.
  • Call or text 988. Calls and texts are directed to a network of partners in communities across the country offering suicide prevention services such as counselling. The 988 service is available in English and French to all.
  • Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (text between 4 p.m. and midnight ET).
  • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (phone), live chat counselling on the website.
  • Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.

This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you’re worried about.

 

Show of Solidarity – Rally for CUPW (Canada Post)

Dear Sisters, Brothers and Friends,

After a year of stalled negotiations, CUPW members made the difficult decision to walk the picket line for fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to retire with dignity – basic rights that every worker deserves. They’re also fighting for the future of our public postal service.

Canada Post’s management and their allies want to close post offices, slash jobs, and make it harder to receive your mail. Canada Post is a public service and should not be parcelled off to private interests. It belongs to all of us. We can’t let that happen.

The MFL is holding a SHOW OF SOLIDARITY RALLY in support of postal workers who are out on strike for a fair deal! Please join us at 208 Provencher Blvd. in Winnipeg on Friday, December 13 at Noon to show your support.

In Solidarity,

Kevin Rebeck
President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour

 

 

Transgender Awareness Week

To celebrate the Transgender Awareness week, there will be a Flag Raising event on Wednesday November 13th at 9:30 AM in the Union Centre front entrance. See more here

All are welcome to attend

In Solidarity,
Jonny Maria
Equal Rights and Opportunity Chair
CUPE National Pink Triangle Committee Chair

 

Anti Scab Legislation PASSED

Dear Sisters, Brothers, and Friends,

Finally, after 50 years of fighting, we have won 50% + 1 card check and anti-scab legislation. And thanks to Premier Wab Kinew and his NDP government, we have the strongest card check and anti-scab law in Canada.

Bill 37 was given Royal Assent last night, meaning 50% + 1 card check and a ban on scab labour are now the law in Manitoba. Our labour movement never lost hope of winning these protections for workers, and now the dreams of generations of union activists have come true.

Now that this law is in place, it is easier than ever before for workers to join a union. If a majority of employees in a workplace sign a union application card, they’ll get a union.

Due to amendments that the government made, Manitoba’s anti-scab law includes the broadest definition of scab labour in Canada. And it also includes earlier exemptions for unions and employers who don’t supply any essential services, reducing red tape and conflict around essential service agreements.

For much more information about the new rules regarding card check, anti-scab and essential services, please read our FACT SHEET. We have also included a POSTER announcing this major win for working people and their unions in Manitoba.

Unfortunately, the Legislative Assembly website has not yet been updated to incorporate the newly adopted amendments into the text of Bill 37. The website still has the original text of Bill 37 (see Schedule D), and, separately, the amendments.

To make things easier, we’ve created our own updated version of the bill, with all the amendments included.

I want to thank all of the unions and labour activists who helped us win this historic rebalancing of Manitoba’s labour laws.

Thank you as well to Premier Kinew and Labour Minister Malaya Marcelino for championing card check and anti-scab, and to Finance Minister Adrien Sala for bringing these protections forward in his budget legislation after the Opposition PCs tried to block them from being introduced.

These new rights for workers will mean bigger paycheques, greater job security and safer workplaces.

Let’s Get Organizing.

In Solidarity,
Kevin Rebeck
President of the Manitoba Federation of Labour