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Dear Members,
2019 is shaping up to be one the busiest and most important years in our union’s history. As we continue to fight back against ongoing cuts to our health care system, we are also preparing for union representation votes which will require nurses’ participation in record numbers. It’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck effort, and with your support, I’m confident we can emerge a more unified and stronger union.
As you know, MNU’s collective agreement expired in March 2017. Although we served notice to bargain in December 2016, the government has made no attempt to meet us. It’s frustrating to still be without a new contract two years later. In part, it’s a consequence of the Pallister government’s anti-labour legislation, The Health Sector Bargaining Unit Review Act, which is throwing bargaining units into disarray and will force health care unions to compete through representation votes.
We still don’t know exactly when the votes will take place or which regions will require nurses to vote. It’s likely that nurses in Winnipeg will have to vote, and nurses outside of Winnipeg will be exempt, but we have not received confirmation. Regardless, expect MNU campaigning to ramp up this spring, with the votes taking place during the summer. We will provide updates regularly in the coming weeks and months; if you haven’t already, please ensure we have your email address and you are subscribed to our weekly e-newsletter The Pulse. You can do so by logging into MNU’s Membership Portal via manitobanurses.ca.
If you’re asked to vote, we are of course counting on you to vote for MNU, the only union run by nurses, for nurses. MNU understands the unique, professional needs of our members far better than any other organization.
But we also want nurses to vote MNU to send a strong message to government that nurses are united, and that we won’t stand for further cuts and changes that undermine our own health and safety and our ability to provide qualitCuty care for patients. Nurses are the most trusted spokespeople in health care, and when we stand together, we can be an unstoppable force. Please join us in sending that message when the time comes.
In the meantime, there is no shortage of work to do. AGM 2019 is around the corner (April 30 to May 2), which will once again feature a major rally against health care cuts. We will continue to do everything we can to speak out against the program of cuts and changes in the WRHA, and I will be continuing my province-wide Listening Tour and attending local/ worksite AGMs. We continue to challenge Bill 28 — the Pallister government’s wage-freeze legislation — in court through the Partnership to Defend Public Services, a coalition of public sector unions that is coordinated by the Manitoba Federation of Labour. The case will be heard in Manitoba’s court of Queen’s Bench from November 18 to December 5, 2019.
We also continue to push our Put Patients First petition — if you haven’t yet, please take a minute to sign online at www.putpatientsfirst.ca or contact K. Profeta for paper copies. And, of course, we must begin thinking about how to make nurses’ voices heard ahead of the next provincial election in the fall of 2020.
Thank you for all you do during these challenging times, and I hope to see you at your local/worksite or AGM soon!
Sincerely,
Darlene Jackson, President, Manitoba Nurses Union
Details for union representation votes, triggered by the Pallister government’s Health Care Sector Bargaining Unit Review Act, are slowly coming into focus. Since enactment, the government has scrambled to determine how to implement the legislation, which will force unions representing a variety of job classifications within the health care sector to compete for members.
MNU has lobbied aggressively to make the case that requiring nurses to participate in representation votes is unnecessary and wasteful. MNU already represents over 97% of all unionized nurses in Manitoba. Time and again, nurses have chosen MNU to represent their unique, professional interests. Forcing another vote is simply unnecessary. Unfortunately, the legislation does not explicitly allow for any exemptions as long as a job classification is represented by more than one union within a health region, regardless of how many members they actually represent. Although some new information has been provided, some key questions remain. Here’s the latest on the potential votes:
To date, Bill 29 Commissioner Robert Pruden has confirmed that voting will be conducted in two phases.
Phase I will include Interlake-Eastern, Prairie Mountain, Southern and Northern health authorities, and Phase II will include the WRHA and Shared Health. The campaign period for each Phase will be 4 weeks, followed by a one-week period — 7 consecutive calendar days — for voting. Unions will be notified 4 weeks prior to the beginning of the first campaign period. Therefore, then entire process is expected to take 14 weeks. Voters will have the option of electronic voting or telephone voting. There will be no mail-in ballot.
Voters will be able to vote from anywhere, anytime during the voting period. 24-hour access will be provided.
We still don’t have answers to the big questions: WHEN nurses will be voting, or precisely WHO will be voting, given that nurses in some regions may still be exempted. There are also a variety of administrative and procedural matters yet to be confirmed, including the rules for campaigning.
While we repeat that many details are not yet confirmed, MNU remains hopeful that nurses in most health regions outside Winnipeg will be exempt from representation votes. However, nurses within the WRHA will almost certainly be drawn into representation votes this year. A vote in Shared Health also remains a possibility (HSC transfers to Shared Health in April 2019).
Rest assured, regardless of when and where the votes take place, MNU is preparing a robust campaign to ensure a strong voting turnout by nurses. In the coming months we will be communicating extensively with members to ensure awareness of the votes, and what is at stake for their union representation. MNU is a union run by nurses, for nurses, and it will be critical that nurses reaffirm their support for this model of representation by casting their ballot.
This is significant for nurses, not just because they will be asked to vote for MNU; it is an opportunity to send a message to the Pallister government that nurses are united and ready to fight back against ongoing health care cuts and changes.
Stay tuned for more voting updates in the weeks and months ahead. MNU will be sharing information via mail, phone, e-mail and events at your workplace during the yet-to-be-approved campaign period. In the meantime, visit manitobanurses.ca for the latest information and news.
AGM 2019 will take place in Winnipeg from April 30 to May 2 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. The business portion of the meeting will take place on April 30 and May 1, with the Provincial Education Day to follow on May 2. Delegates will have the opportunity to pre-register on April 29. Details will be provided in the Annual Report, to be published before March 31.
On May 1 at noon, delegates and members will gather at the Manitoba Legislature for another rally to Put Patients First. The event is open to the public and we encourage all members to attend! The rally will feature the delivery of MNU’s Put Patients First petition, which is generating thousands of signatures and urges “the Provincial Government to reverse cuts and closures that negatively impact patients’ ability to access timely, quality health care” and “make real investments in Manitoba’s public health care system that will improve the timeliness and quality of care”.
Paper copies of the petition have been distributed to all local/ worksites, and are available on union bulletin boards or by contacting your local/worksite President or Labour Relations Officer. You can also add your voice to our online petition at www.putpatientsfirst.ca, although only signatures obtained on paper copies can be officially accepted by the legislature.
This year we’ll also be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike, an important event that changed the course of history for the labour movement in Manitoba and across the country.
This year’s Education Day, features workshops and guest speakers on a variety of issues, including workplace health & safety, mental health, diversity awareness, and union activism. Stay tuned for updates in the coming weeks at manitobanurses.ca.
We also hope you also attend your local/worksite AGM this spring! AGM information should be shared with you in the coming weeks if it hasn’t already. MNU President Darlene Jackson will be attending as many as possible.
In the meantime, remember to stay tuned to MNU’s social media channels during AGM 2019 for important news and updates, including a live stream of the President’s speech!
Recently, the MNU Board of Directors made the decision to begin the process of affiliating with the Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL), pending ratification from voting delegates at AGM 2019. To enhance engagement with membership on this issue, at the Board’s request we are providing answers to common questions about affiliation.
The following letter was sent to Cameron Friesen, Minister of Health, Seniors & Active Living, in regards to dramatic increases to workload and overtime in many programs and facilities across the WRHA since restructuring began. The letter is part of MNU’s ongoing campaign to stop health care cuts, and for improved communication and consultation with nurses about changes to the system.
Dear Minister Friesen,
I’m writing to bring forward the concerns of nurses with respect to their ability to provide safe, quality care for patients due to dramatic workload increases and the reliance on excessive overtime to meet baseline staffing in many programs across the WRHA since restructuring began. I previously raised these issues with you in a meeting on October 15, and again in a letter on October 23, 2018.
Unfortunately, I feel our concerns are not being addressed. Most recently, concerns about the situation in the Seven Oaks Emergency Department were brought forward in a letter signed by more than 20 affected nurses.
These challenges come on the heels of significant increases in overtime and workload at Grace, Concordia, HSC and St. Boniface across multiple programs. Unfortunately, in many instances where nurses have attempted to bring their concerns forward to management, they are met with inaction, or worse, threatened with discipline if they escalate their concerns.
Nurses are bound by a professional and ethical responsibility to advocate where they believe patient care is compromised. Many have done so recently, sending letters to your office, the Premier, and the offices of Opposition Leaders. Advocacy is coming from many different facilities, and across several programs. Nurses signing these letters have real concerns about the quality of care they are providing and the safety of their patients. We have not seen nurse advocacy reach this volume in Manitoba for decades, and it’s clear that the cuts and changes being imposed by this government are prompting this response.
Overtime data that we have received from the WRHA show dramatic increases in many programs since the changes were implemented starting in October 2017. We are hearing from many nurses who worry about the effects of chronic understaffing or increased mandatory overtime to meet baseline staffing. It’s impacting their ability to provide quality patient care, and it poses risks to their own health and safety as well.
Minister, this is simply not an acceptable staffing model, short or long term. It’s unsustainable and will only create further problems as nurses become exhausted and sick. Morale has been severely compromised throughout this process. I fear this is causing recruitment and retention issues as well.
Manitoba’s nurses want to ensure they are delivering the best care possible, but the demands being placed on them are unreasonable. Nurses deserve to have their voices heard, and they have a right to speak out about the real challenges they face due to ongoing consolidation. Indeed, in the interest of all Manitobans, I believe it’s important that you hear directly from them.
As such, I’m requesting a meeting with you that would include frontline nurses, so that you may hear their concerns first hand. By working together we can reverse this course, and develop a better plan to provide better care for Manitoba’s patients. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Darlene Jackson
In order to build public support for Bill 201 that would enhance care for long term care residents, MNU has launched a new online letter-writing campaign at putpatinetsfirst.ca/longtermcare. Supporters can enter their postal code to automatically send a template letter to their MLA expressing support for the legislation, and acknowledging the need for improved care standards for seniors and other vulnerable Manitobans. All letters are copied to the office of Health Minister Cameron Friesen and Premier Brian Pallister.
“Advocating is an essential part of nursing,” said MNU President Darlene Jackson. “We hope nurses and the public will take advantage of this template, and send a strong message to our MLA’s about the need for improved care standards for long term care residents in Manitoba.”
On November 29th, MNU announced support for Bill 201, The Health Services Insurance Amendment Act (Personal Care Homes Staffing Guidelines). Jackson and MNU Long-Term Care Board representative Karen Jantzen joined Official Opposition Leader Wab Kinew and Health Critic Andrew Swan for the announcement at the Manitoba Legislature.
The bill legislates minimum requirements for care hours per resident per day in personal care homes. Protecting care hour minimums in legislation will help seniors with chronic and complex needs receive the level of care they need, and support the nurses providing that care. The bill also calls on the Health Minister to make much needed enhancements to care hours going forward.
“Manitoba’s nurses see it every day: more direct hours of care are needed to maintain quality care for personal care home residents” said Jackson. “This legislation addresses the key recommendations we made earlier this year, which highlights the best available evidence from across North America.”
Last spring, MNU released a new report The Future of Long-Term Care is Now, which addressed the nursing care needs in personal care homes. According to the report, the positive correlation between care quality, staffing levels and health outcomes is undeniable, and the evidence shows a need to move toward 4.1 direct care hours. In MNU focus group testing, nearly 60% of nurses state they do not have enough time to properly care for patients. Insufficient levels of care can increase the risk of care hazards for patients, such as falls, improper medication processing, bed sores or delayed monitoring of vital signs.
Visit manitobanurses.ca/long-term-care-report to read MNU’s report, and putpatientsfirst.ca/longtermcare to send a letter to your MLA today.
Significant increases to workload, excessive overtime, and other issues are affecting nurses across the province. Many of these issues have been aggravated by government cuts and changes to health care, which have made it harder for nurses to provide the level of care our patients deserve.
Nurses have several options to address workplace issues. Sometimes issues can be resolved simply by approaching management and discussing the issue. Nurses also have access to the grievance and arbitration process for violations of their collective agreement. For complaints that don’t qualify as a grievance, other avenues are available including the Union-Management Committee, the Workplace Health and Safety Committee, or the Nursing Advisory Committee.
If you’re unsure which venue is most appropriate for your issue, consult with your local/worksite president.
When problems persist after the options above have been exhausted, nurses can consider raising the issue in other ways. And when government or management decisions impact patient care and our ability to deliver it, nurses may feel a responsibility to speak out publicly in a responsible manner. In fact, the Canadian Nursing Association Code of Ethics says nurses have a responsibility to address “broad aspects of social justice that are associated with health and well-being” (Canadian Nursing Association, Code of Ethics, 2017, p. 18). This includes “advocating for a full continuum of accessible health-care services” that meet the needs of the public.
Advocating publicly can be a powerful tool, however the manner in which concerns are brought to the public’s attention is important to consider, as it can intersect with employer confidentiality rules and restrictions. Nurses should first use all internal mechanisms to push employers, health authorities and government to take meaningful action. In fact, demonstrating that meaningful effort has been made to resolve an issue internally is critical for establishing credibility with the public and limiting potential repercussions from the employer.
Documentation is also critical to supporting your case. For example, if it is a workload issue, you should be filing Workload Staffing Reports, which are shared with employer and MNU representatives, and brought to the attention of Nursing Advisory Committees.
Remember, MNU is here to assist you, and has staff with expertise in labour relations, communications and government relations. By pursuing appropriate internal options first, you may be able to resolve your issue and avoid a public confrontation. When those options have been exhausted, MNU can help you determine how and when your concerns could be raised to a public audience.
Every issue is different, and sometimes it’s difficult to know what to do. Here are MNU’s five questions to consider when taking action on a workplace issue:
Lastly, it’s important to get involved in union advocacy campaigns that help bring awareness to issues impacting nurses, such as workload and overtime. For example, signing our Put Patients First petition, which calls on the Pallister government to stop its program of health cuts and changes, and to address nurses’ concerns, is a quick and easy way to add your voice to collective action. You can share it with your colleagues via putpatientsfirst.ca, or visit manitobanurses.ca/getinvolved for more other ways to share your concerns and patient care through union channels.
As the most trusted spokespeople in health care, nurses can use their voice to effect real change for the benefit of all Manitobans. MNU has proven that by working with members, we can generate significant public interest in health care issues, and force the government, health authorities, and employers to act.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your MNU representatives for more information.
Each year, the $1,500 Joyce Gleason Scholarship is awarded to four students enrolled in a nursing program (RN, LPN or RPN) at a Manitoba institution. All applicants must submit an essay describing their involvement in volunteer/ community activities, reasons for choosing a nursing career, and goals after graduation. Students may apply in any year of their nursing program; however, nurses who have already completed their program are not eligible.
In addition, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions offers an annual $1,000 scholarship to a Manitoba student enrolled in a nursing program. Applicants for the Joyce Gleason Scholarship are automatically considered for the award, and does not require a separate application.
CFNU Scholarship recipient:
MNU thanks all of those who applied for scholarships this year. The annual deadline application is October 15 — more information and the online application is available at manitobanurses.ca/joyce-gleason.
Interested in furthering your nursing education? MNU members enrolled in a nursing degree or additional degree program that is nursing program can apply in any year of the program. Applicants are required to submit an essay explaining their a involvement in community/volunteer and nursing activities, and how continuing education will impact your nursing career.
Applicants must be willing to have their essays published in part or total, and special consideration is given to members with active MNU involvement.
Learn more and download the application form at manitobanurses.ca/continuing-education.
At first glance, you may be wondering what does climate change have to do with nursing? How does climate change impact my workplace?
The simple answer is that climate change is already having an impact on the nursing profession, and will increasingly so in the years ahead. As the impacts of climate change manifest themselves due to the rapid accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, nurses will inevitably see the impacts throughout our health care system. Rising temperatures increase the frequency and power of severe weather events and impact human health and behavior.
In September 2018, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — a United Nations sponsored organization consisting of leading climate scientists from across the world — released a new report illustrating the direst climate projections it has ever made. The IPCC, which has a reputation for cautionary modelling, concluded that in order to limit global warming to an average of 1.5-degree Celsius above pre-industrial age levels, the world will have to take transformative actions to drastically reduce carbon emissions within 12 years. This is the ‘point of no return’ — a global average increase beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius threatens to cause a ‘runaway greenhouse effect’ which means warming will become more rapid and become exponentially more difficult to adapt to and mitigate.
It’s clear that climate change is already underway and is impacting human health in profound ways. The increasing frequency and power of devastating weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, heat waves, and floods are causing massive human displacement, migration and fatalities. We don’t have to look far from home to see examples. Last October, Hurricane Michael hit the Florida panhandle and broke records as the strongest hurricane on record to land in the area. Across Europe, a summer heat wave and drought led to record-breaking temperatures and wildfires, and in Quebec a separate heat wave was blamed for more than 90 deaths.
Manitoba has also seen an increase in extreme weather events and natural disasters, with two of the biggest floods in the province’s history taking place just two years apart in 2011 and 2014, and this past summer broke records as being one of the driest ever recorded, impacting harvests and livestock herds across the province. Advocacy related to climate change and nursing has been gaining momentum in Canada in recent years. The Canadian Nursing Association has been on record about the topic for several years; in fact, in 2008 the CNA added support for nursing action on environmental issues to its Code of Ethics:
There are broad aspects of social justice that are associated with health and wellbeing and that ethical nursing practice addresses. These aspects relate to the need for change in systems and societal structures in order to create greater equity for all. Nurses should endeavour as much as possible, individually and collectively, to advocate for and work toward eliminating social inequities by: … Supporting environmental preservation and restoration and advocating for initiatives that reduce environmentally harmful practices in order to promote health and well-being [and] Maintaining awareness of broader global health concerns such as…environmental pollution. (2008, pp. 20-21)
In 2008, the CNA also released a paper entitled The Role of Nurses in Addressing Climate Change, which explains how climate change connects to social justice and the nursing profession. Since then, they have released several position statements reaffirming that nurses have a role in adaptation and mitigation efforts to climate change, most recently in 2017 (see link below).
As Manitoba continues to wrestle with a chronic nursing shortage, nurses should begin thinking about how climate change may impact their professional practice and patient care. It’s never too early to learn more about the health impacts of climate change in your community, and how it may relate to service delivery throughout the province. Check out the resources below to learn more.
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
https://envirn.org/climate-change-health-andnursing/
Canadian Nursing Association
https://www.cna-aiic.ca
(enter “climate change” in the search bar)
Health Care Without Harm
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
National Nurses United/Global Nurses United
