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.

CUPE 998 Steward Drive

Becoming a CUPE 998 steward is a meaningful way to support your coworkers and help create a fair, respectful, and safe workplace.

As a steward, you serve as a vital link between union members and leadership, ensuring that everyone’s rights are upheld and voices are heard. It’s an opportunity to build your leadership skills, stay informed about workplace issues, and make a real difference in people’s day-to-day work lives.

Whether you’re helping to resolve conflicts, providing guidance on collective agreements, or advocating for better conditions, being a steward means standing up for fairness and solidarity

How to get involved

A Steward Information Session will be announced shortly for those interested in attending. This session will provide an overview of the role and responsibilities of a steward in the workplace

 

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.

CUPE Bargaining Update – Hydro

This morning, the CUPE Bargaining Team presented our final offer to the Corporation. We are now awaiting their response. Once received, we will schedule a series of membership meetings for further discussion.

Our unwavering priority remains securing a fair and equitable contract—one that truly reflects the dedication, contributions, and value of our CUPE members. We are committed to keeping you informed throughout this process and will share updates as soon as new information becomes available.

Thank you for your continued support and solidarity.

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

 

Winnipeg Jets / Manitoba Moose – End of Season Ticket Offers!

True North Sports and Entertainment has reached out to CUPE Local 998 with this exclusive offer for our members.

Winnipeg Jets Fan Appreciation Offer – April 16th

  • This game is almost sold out, but I have a few seats available for sale!
  • Cost is $90 per seat in the upper bowl (rows 5-8) and includes a hot dog, souvenir cup, and non-stop pop all game!
  • With it being Fan Appreciation, there will also be extra in-game giveaways and some amazing prizes!
  • To purchase tickets, please email Braden Fleury at Truth North Sports  directly with how many you would like and that you are a CUPE member. Limited tickets available

Winnipeg Jets – Sunday Showdown against Edmonton – April 13th

  • Similar to the Anaheim game, this game will be sold out, but I have a few seats available!
  • Seats are in section 310, rows 9-12
  • Come see Connor McDavid take on Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets, in what should be a playoff atmosphere!
  • Tickets are $170 each (savings compared to purchasing online)
  • Email me directly to purchase tickets!

Manitoba Moose Fan Appreciation / Whiteout Package – April 12th 

  • Get ready for the Whiteout with this special $45 package that includes:
    • Lower Bowl Ticket for the Manitoba Moose Fan Appreciation game on April 12th
    • Jets Whiteout T-Shirt
    • Ticket for the Street Party (Choice between game 1 and 2)
  • This is also the Moose Fan Appreciation Game, so will include some great giveaways and deals!
  • For the details, and to purchase tickets, please follow the link below
  • If you would prefer just tickets – I can do that directly as well for $20 each

 

CUPE Email Communication

CUPE wanted to provide some clarification regarding our recent email communications.

When sending bulk emails to our membership, we encountered issues with messages being blocked by Shaw ( cupe998@shawbiz.ca). As a result, we are now using our CUPE email address (cupe@cupe998.mb.ca), which is hosted on our SharePoint tenant, to resend those communications.

Additionally, we are currently in a transition phase from using Hydro email to our CUPE email, which has led to a few temporary hiccups.

To clarify, our office uses two email addresses: Shaw for day-to-day correspondence, and CUPE for bulk mailings.

 

CUPE Bargaining Update – Hydro

Negotiations between CUPE 998 and the corporation are temporarily on hold as both parties work diligently to finalize an Essential Service Agreement, in accordance with provincial legislation enacted in November. The Essential Services Agreement has now been finalized and CUPE will present a final offer to the corporation as we continue striving for a fair and equitable collective agreement.

We understand that this delay may be frustrating, but it is a necessary step to ensure we get it right. Your patience and support are greatly appreciated. We remain committed to keeping you informed and will provide updates as new developments occur.

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

 

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