Important Update: Benefit Enhancements Including Teladoc Services

The Union has been getting inquires about the benefit enhancements that Hydro has introduced, Total Rewards has released this information to CUPE to share. The biggest concern is Teladoc services which provides you and your family with expert medical support. These services are designed to help you make informed health decisions at no extra cost. Here’s an overview of how these benefits can assist you:

Telemedicine
Teladoc also offers 24/7 access to healthcare providers via app, web, or phone. This on-demand service is available anywhere in Canada and while traveling in the U.S., at no cost to you. If a prescription is needed, it will be sent directly to the pharmacy of your choice. With support available in 150 languages, Teladoc makes it easy to receive care when and where you need it.

For more information on how to add dependents, Telemedicine Welcome Letter

Telemedicine_What to Know

How to access Telemedicine

Expert Medical Service
Your benefits now include access to nationally recognized medical professionals across 450 specialties. Teladoc can provide you with a second opinion, guidance on treatment options, and help navigate the healthcare system. You can receive expert medical opinions on a variety of conditions, including:
– Getting a second opinion on diagnoses or treatments
– Finding local or international specialists
– Accessing healthcare resources and information

This service gives you peace of mind by offering professional advice, all from the comfort of your home.

For more information, you can view the EMS Welcome Letter  [Read More Here]

Expert Medical Opinion (EMO)
You also have access to expert medical advice on any diagnosis, treatment, or surgery. This service is free of charge and covers a wide range of medical conditions such as:
– Back, joint, or neck pain
– Digestive issues
– Heart disease, strokes, and heart attacks
– Cancer and tumors

Teladoc’s medical experts provide comprehensive reviews to ensure you’re making well-informed health decisions. You can view the EMO_Welcome Letter

Expert Medical Opinion what you need to know

Family Access
In addition to your personal benefits, your parents and parents-in-law are also eligible for these services at no extra cost. Teladoc can help your family members with second opinions, treatment reviews, and navigating healthcare decisions. This ensures your entire family receives the best possible medical guidance, reducing uncertainty and helping protect your loved ones.

Overview

How to add dependents

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about these new benefits or how to access them.

 

CUPE Executive 2024 Candidate Biographies

Good day Membership,

We the nomination committee have been diligently resolving some issues that have arisen during the nomination period. As a result, there has been a four-day suspension of campaigning for Bryanne Koehn, Janelle Powers, Melanie Lysack and Daniel Schroder for the following infractions to the CUPE 998 Bylaws and rules of campaigning set out on the nomination form. The suspension period will be from Friday Oct. 18th, 2024, 4:00 pm to Tuesday, Oct. 22nd, 2024, 11:59 pm. All other Candidates can begin campaigning beginning today, Friday Oct 18th, 2024, 4:00 pm.

Infractions highlighted are listed below,

Bylaw 8.1.3

  1. b) Post to social media regarding election material are considered campaigning, and
  2. c) Candidates can begin campaigning once accepted by the Nominations Committee.

Nomination form Rules stated,

Campaigning may start on Oct. 18th, 2024.

We believe this to be a fair and equitable condition to the infractions of having the website up and live for the week prior to the discovery by the nominations committee on Tuesday, Oct. 15th, 2024, at which time the website was shut down at the request of the committee.

At this time, we would like to wish all candidates’ good luck.

Your candidates and biographies for the CUPE Executive Election are as follows:

President

1st Vice President

2nd Vice President

Treasurer

Recording Secretary

Acclaimed

Executives at Large

  • Jonny Maria
  • Nick Ogryzlo
  • Jason Paintin

In Solidarity,
Nomination Committee

 

CUPE Bargaining Update with Manitoba Hydro

Dear Members,

We are reaching out to provide an update on the ongoing bargaining process. The CUPE Bargaining Team met with Manitoba Hydro on October 11 and again on October 15. During the October 11 meeting, the employer presented its wage proposal, and on October 15, CUPE submitted a counter-proposal.

Our next meetings are scheduled for October 24 and 29, where we expect Manitoba Hydro to respond to our latest proposal.

Thank you for your continued support. We will keep you informed as negotiations progress.

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

Fall 2024 Manitoba Hydro Leadership and Union Tour Update – Manitoba Hydro International

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone from MHI, HVDC, Sony Place, and Wilkes who attended the recent breakfast and lunch events. It was a pleasure connecting with our members and employees from these locations at MHI Offices.

We were honored to have CUPE President Michelle Bergen, IBEW Business Manager Mike Espenell, as well as Vice Presidents Hal Turner, Ian Fish, Alastair Fogg, and CEO Allan Danroth in attendance.

Your valuable feedback and insights are greatly appreciated. These conversations are critical as we work together to create a stronger, more inclusive environment for everyone at Manitoba Hydro.

 

No Contracting Out Campaign

CUPE 998 is actively collaborating with our National Office on the No Contracting Out campaign. Building on the success of the “Keep Manitoba Hydro Public” campaign and the Manitoba government’s commitment to keeping Manitoba Hydro public, as announced in the 2023 Speech from the Throne, we achieved a significant victory for CUPE 998 and all its members.

However, we now need to strengthen our efforts to oppose contracting out of our work and begin the process of getting that work back in house.

We continue to witness contractors taking over jobs throughout the corporation, and it’s time for us to take a firmer stand. This issue is not unique to Manitoba Hydro; many Crown corporations are grappling with similar challenges.

A report by the Manitoba Research Alliance (MRA) on workers’ perspectives regarding the privatization and contracting out of Manitoba Infrastructure, published in 2021, remains highly relevant today. For several years, the Progressive Conservative government has aggressively reduced the number of government workers while shifting contracts and responsibilities to the private sector.

The report highlights the previous PC government’s push toward privatizing and outsourcing key aspects of Manitoba’s infrastructure and transportation services. It reflects the voices of public sector workers responsible for crucial tasks such as highway and bridge maintenance, snow clearing, capital project planning and execution, road safety and enforcement, trucking regulation, fleet management, water structure operations, ferries, and winter roads.

Key findings from the report, based on workers’ experiences, include that under the PCs:

– Understaffing is compromising public safety and leading to worker burnout.

– A reduction in the quality of service and infrastructure assets is anticipated.

– Taxpayers can expect higher costs with less value for money.

– Workers are being sidelined, and their expertise is ignored in decision-making.

It is time for the new Manitoba government to listen to the evidence that the previous government failed to hear. The report concludes that dismantling internal capacity, developed over decades, will be both costly and difficult to reverse. The time to act to prevent this costly mistake is now.

[Read the full report here.]

 

Nominations for Executive Elections Are Open

The CUPE 998 Nominating Committee is pleased to announce that the nomination period for the 2024 Executive Elections is now open and closes on October 17, 2021, at 4:00 p.m.

Campaigning will start of Oct 18, 2024, and will cease on Nov 15th, 2024.

For information see the 2024 Executive Election Guidelines and Nomination Form document.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments, please contact the CUPE Nominations Committee

In Solidarity,
CUPE 998 Nominating Committee

 

CUPE Recognizes The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation 2024

Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honor’s the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.

On this day we honor the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. Widespread public commemoration and acknowledgement of the tragic and painful history, continued impact, and intergenerational trauma of Canada’s residential school legacy is a vital component of the reconciliation process. You can visit the NTRC website here for more information about events happening around Winnipeg and across Canada. Also you can visit the CUPE National Website for more information

 

CUPE Bargaining Update with Manitoba Hydro

We are writing to update you on the progress of our bargaining process. CUPE met with the employer on September 24 and again today, September 26. We are approaching the conclusion of discussions on key non-monetary proposals.

Our next scheduled meeting will take place on October 11, where we will begin addressing monetary matters. Please rest assured that we remain fully committed to keeping you informed as negotiations progress.

Thank you for your continued support and solidarity throughout this important process.

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

Fall 2024 Manitoba Hydro Leadership and Union Tour Update Steinbach

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who attended this morning’s event in Steinbach. It was a pleasure to share breakfast with our employees at 175 North Front Drive, where VP Hal Turner, CUPE President Michelle Bergen, and AMHSSE Treasurer Grant Wiebe delivered insightful opening remarks.

We greatly appreciate the valuable feedback and input shared during the event. These conversations are important as we continue to build a stronger, more inclusive environment for all.

The tour will be making additional stops, and we will provide updates along the way. We look forward to engaging with more of you and continuing these meaningful discussions.