A Message from CUPE National Office – The Global Pandemic

This week the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19, a global pandemic.

We recognize this is causing great concern for our members, many of whom are on the front lines providing care and support to the most vulnerable in our communities.

Public services are the backbone of a safe and healthy community, and are never more important than in the face of a crisis. We have always been proud of the work our members do despite the many challenges they face, including chronic underfunding and austerity measures by governments. We want to acknowledge that work today as you help your communities navigate this new crisis while dealing with your own challenges and family responsibilities.

It is important that our members know that their union will be there for them throughout this crisis. In the coming weeks, our members may face closures, cancellations and quarantines that impact their work and their workplaces. As always, CUPE staff are available to help ensure our members’ rights and benefits are fully protected. The work of our union continues, and COVID-19 does nothing to change that.

We know that spring is a busy season for union meetings. CUPE locals should check advisories from local and provincial public health agencies before making decisions to cancel or postpone meetings and events. Democratic principles of accountability and transparency remain important, and staff are available to assist in the application and interpretation of the National Constitution and your bylaws.

CUPE will continue to monitor the situation and will make decisions about whether to proceed with upcoming national meetings, courses, and events as required.

CUPE will be posting updates for our members as they become available on our website at https://cupe.ca/search/COVID. We recommend checking back regularly.

Stay safe, and stay strong.

In solidarity,

MARK HANCOCK
National President

CHARLES FLEURY
National Secretary-Treasurer

Public Utilities Board Report on Efficiency Manitoba

PROVINCE RECEIVES PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD REPORT ON
EFFICIENCY MANITOBA’S 2020-23 EFFICIENCY PLAN

Manitoba Conservation and Climate advises that it has received the Public Utilities Board (PUB) report on the startup plan for Efficiency Manitoba.

Efficiency Manitoba presented a three-year plan with proposed electric and natural gas demand-side management (DSM) programs and includes energy-saving activities and projections.

The plan has a target of reducing electricity consumption by 4.5 per cent over the next three years and reducing natural gas consumption by 2.25 per cent over the same period.

The province is currently reviewing the report and will make a final decision considering the PUB recommendations later this month.  The province expects Efficiency Manitoba will be operational April 1.

The PUB report has been posted on its website, and is available at:
www.pubmanitoba.ca/v1/proceedings-decisions/appl-current/index.html.

Lockout at Federated Co-Operatives Limited (FCL)

As the lockout at Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) enters its 36th day, CUPE998 would like to extend its support to the 700+ UNIFOR tradespeople affected by this action. The fact is, while FCL earns record profits, it has locked out its workers and brought in unqualified replacement workers to continue making said profits.

During contract negotiations, FCL has introduced a concession that would eliminate an established employee pension plan that would negatively affect UNIFOR employees to the tune of 17.5%; while in the media FCL is touting an 11.5% salary increase over the course of the proposed contract was negotiated. That is false and is set nationally for refineries.

Employees at other refineries benefit from profit sharing, stock options and bonuses. Alternatively, UNIFOR employees had, in the past, negotiated for and received a pension plan which allowed members to plan for their futures. Now, just 3 years later FCL wants to take that away and offers nothing substantive in return for this proposed concession.

This will not stand. Not for UNIFOR, not for any union.

To be clear, These brothers and sisters aren’t fighting for more, more, more – they only want to keep what they already HAVE.
CUPE998 stands side by side with UNIFOR594. Being one of Co-op’s biggest corporate accounts in Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro will permit CUPE members to refuel corporate vehicles at alternative fueling stations (where possible) during the Labour dispute. Let’s show our Support for UNIFOR594 and send a clear message.

Visit BoycottCO-OP and take the pledge today!

#SupportUnifor594
#BoycottCO

New Report looks at the Value of Manitoba Hydro

A new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative’s (CCPA) Manitoba office: Manitoba Hydro, the Long View argues the publicly owned crown corporation offers economic and social benefits that would be lost if the crown were privatized. This sentiment was reflected in the Probe Research poll released on September 4th, in which 68 percent of respondents rejected privatization of Manitoba Hydro.

The new report responds to recent criticisms of Manitoba Hydro which take a far-too-narrow focus on flash-point issues like Hydro’s debt/equity ratio, or unknowns like the future price of different kinds of energy. “We need to understand the long-term value the utility provides” explains Lynne Fernandez, report author, “and that requires putting today’s debate in the context of past development”.

The terms of reference for the 2016 Boston Consulting Group report and recent inquiry proposed by the current Conservative provincial government are strikingly similar to the 1977 Tritschler Report, and the lessons learnt from that debate apply today. The recent consultant reports and media attention caused some to fear that a push for privatization of Manitoba Hydro, such as we saw with Manitoba Telephone Services, was building.

Fernandez explains Manitoba Hydro is a large corporation operating in complex world of continental exports, imports, spot pricing, future pricing and domestic and foreign demands. It competes with other forms of energy, such as fracked gas, wind, and solar that come and go at ever faster rates. It must now operate in an environment of climate change, species extinction and volatile politics. These elements are folded into the report, along with discussion of the long, painful and complicated relationship with First Nation and Métis communities who have paid a too-high price for hydro development. The improving relationships between Manitoba Hydro and First Nations – also discussed,  should be part of Truth and Reconciliation in Manitoba.

Manitoba households enjoy the second lowest electrical bills in North America, and industrial users benefit from the lowest, another advantage to public ownership, as opposed to private ownership in Ontario, Alberta or much of the US.

The role of Manitoba Hydro will be raised in tonight’s provincial election debate on climate change and the environment, 7 – 9 pm at the Hotel Fort Garry.

Report now available online: https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/manitoba-hydro-long-view

About the author: Lynne Fernandez holds the Errol Black Chair in Labour Issues at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternative MB is the author of Manitoba Hydro, the Long View.

About the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is a non-profit charitable research institute active Nationally since 1980 and in Manitoba since 1997. www.policyalternatives.ca