UPDATE (Oct 8) — Strike Averted

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We have learned the government and the unions representing health care support and facility workers have reached a tentative deal overnight, which means the strike has been averted.

Workers should be reporting to work today as they are advised. The unions, MGEU and CUPE, will likely describe this as the strike being ​“postponed” until their members vote to ratify. The details are not yet public, but the deal likely includes significant increases for some of the lowest paid workers in the health care system, such as health care aides and home care workers. Some made little more than minimum wage and it was difficult to retain or recruit.

Yesterday, the full impact of the strike was shared publicly. In addition to major disruptions to home care, hospital services would also have been reduced. This would have impacted elective surgeries, diagnostic imaging, ambulatory care clinics, and more.

If you have questions about service disruptions, please contact the manager or medical leader in your facility. You can also contact us at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.

STRIKE EXPECTED (Archived Content)

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Over 25,000 health care support workers across most of Manitoba are expected to be on strike, starting Tuesday, October 8 at 6 a.m. Both management and union leaders have described the strike to Doctors Manitoba as ​“imminent” and ​“highly likely.” 

WHY IT MATTERS: While there are essential services agreements in place, the strike is expected to impact non-urgent services. This could include cancellations of elective surgery slates and diagnostic testing, slowing down hospital discharges (and thus admissions), as well as curtailing other services physicians’ patients rely upon such as home care. For ambulatory care clinics, the reduction in support staff could mean a shift to more virtual appointments. 

• Over 25,000 workers — about half the health workforce — represented by MGEU and CUPE, are affected. If it happens, it will be the largest strike since at least the 1990s.
• The affected workers provide services in the Winnipeg, Southern, Prairie Mountain, and Interlake-Eastern health regions. The Northern region is excluded.
• The workers include health care aides, laundry workers, dietary aides, ward clerks, recreation co-ordinators and other health-care support staff in hospitals and personal care homes, as well as those in the home care program.
• Essential services arrangements mean lower priority work will be affected. A strike could mean a 30% cut in home care services, a 25 – 50% reduction in clerical work, and a 5 – 10% cut in the work of health care aides. 

WATCH FOR UPDATES: If you practice in a hospital, personal care home or RHA-run clinic in the affected regions, watch for updates about how the strike may affect your work. We will update this page as we get information about the strike and impacts on different services. You can contact your medical director or CMO if you need more information. If you aren’t seeing updates or need help getting current information, contact us for assistance at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.

• We will do our best to keep this page updated as the potential strike unfolds. 

HOW IS IT AFFECTING YOU: We want to hear from physicians concerned about, or affected by, this potential strike. Is it affecting the services you provide to your patients? Let us know by emailing us at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.

SUPPORTING YOUR COLLEAGUES:

• If you want to show support for your health support worker colleagues, the unions have set up letter-writing campaigns. For example, you can visit the MGEU website to send a letter to the government with your concerns about the strike.
• If you have moral concerns about crossing the picket line, consider ways of showing your support as you enter the health facility. You could go early, talk to workers, walk with them, or bring snacks. Health facilities provide essential services so access can’t be blocked, and you likely offer essential care that must continue. 
  
• If asked to do work normally done by a striking support worker, consider if it is essential to patient care or your work. However, if you didn’t do this work before the strike, you likely aren’t required to do it now and should raise the issue with the appropriate manager.