Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - February 4, 2022, Winnipeg, Manitoba <§>PAGE A9 FRIDAY,FEBRUARY4,2022 • WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COMNEWS I MANITOBA A9Pandemic pay bump urged for health-care support staff DANIELLE DASILVA T ^ HE NDP is backing health-care support workers in their call for a wage top-up to recognize the added risk and responsibility of working in a pandemic. NDP Leader Wab Kinew and Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 204 president Debbie Boissonneault urged the government to provide a pandemic pay bump — similar to what has been given to nurses — to the more than 14,000 support staff who work on the front lines. “We’re talking about health-care workers who literally do a lot of the heavy lifting in our health-care system,” Kinew said. “This government in Manitoba has left the support staff behind.” In December 2020, Shared Health agreed to provide redeployment and reassignment allowances to nurses at four hospitals who were reassigned, redeployed or working in emergency at hospitals with intensive care units. The allowances were negotiated through the collective bargaining process. Boissonneault said her members feel neglected by the government while negotiations for a new collective agreement have slowed to a crawl. The union has been without a contract for five years. “Every day we talk to the front-line support staff and they are angry,” Boissonneault said. “It is no secret that our members are overwhelmed, short-staffed and are now being mandated to work overtime.” Boissonneault said she requested a meeting with Health Minister Audrey Gordon at the end of the year to discuss a $5 an hour recognition pay for her members but was told such discussions must happen at the bargaining table. CUPE 204 had signed a memorandum of understanding with the employer to provide a premium to staff who are reassigned, redeployed or have their regular shift disrupted. However, Boissonneault said support DANIELLE DA SILVA/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Fort Whyte byelection candidate Trudy Schroeder speaks alongside NDP Leader Wab Kinew, CUPE Local 204 president Debbie Boissonneault (in pink) and health-care support workers. staff working in a number of areas, including care homes and emergency departments, do not receive the same premiums as the nurses they work alongside on COVID-19 wards or during outbreaks. “The virus does not see classification, it does not see department, the virus just attacks and we think the government putting divides in this COVID pay has made it very hard for the support staff to feel valued,” Boissonneault said. A request for comment from Gordon’s office was deferred to Shared Health. In a statement, a spokesperson for Shared Health said the dedication of all health-care workers during the pandemic is appreciated. “Negotiations continue with Manitoba’s facility and community support sector unions and are scheduled to commence with unions representing allied health staff on new, fair and long-term agreements,” the statement said. Kinew said support staff should not have to wait until a new collective agreement is finalized to receive pandemic recognition pay. “Taking a concrete step immediately to offer this recognition pay would be important and then concluding a fair deal as soon as possible,” Kinew said. “No more dragging your heels at the bargaining table and throwing up unnecessary delays.” danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca BOY LIMITED TIME ONLY! COLLAGE Rocking Recliner SAVE Grand Chief Arlen Dumas: 'First Nations citizens are at higher risk' AMC calls for COVID treatment distribution priority KEVIN ROLLASON FIRST Nations leaders are worried the province is looking at making Manitoba pandemic restriction free by spring — before the federal and provincial governments even come up with a plan of action to get new COVID-19 treatments to Indigenous communities. Grand Chief Arlen Dumas, of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, is calling on both to plot an immediate strategy to rush oral anti-viral, as well as monoclonal antibody, treatments to First Nations. “The reason why we’ve had to be proactive is because we are well-aware of the vulnerability of citizens of First Nations,” Dumas said Thursday. “We needed to ensure we were part of those discussions on plans. “First Nations citizens are at higher risk than other Manitobans for severe outcomes from COVID-19 and, as such, should be prioritized for these medications. while pre-positioning of medications has occurred in First Nations communities with nursing stations or hospitals, data is showing inequitable access in First Nations communities who access primary care through provincial systems. “There should be no jurisdictional debate to the provision of health services when it comes to this deadly pandemic.” Earlier this week, Premier Heather Stefanson announced the province would begin reducing public health restrictions Feb. 8. Several sectors, including restaurants, gyms, theatres and professional sports events, will be able to allow 50 per cent of seats or capacity to be filled. Stefanson said the province wanted to reduce restrictions “so people can get back to living their lives.” According to the latest statistics compiled by the Manitoba First Nations COVID-19 pandemic response co-ordination team, on Jan. 31, there were 416 new cases among First Nations people, with 269 of them living on reserve. As well, there were seven First Nations people who succumbed to the virus; a total of 298 First Nations people have died due to COVID-19. The team said there were also 1,712 First Nations people who are presumed to have active cases of the virus. There were 27 First Nations people being treated in hospital intensive care units (45 per cent of the total number), while 190 First Nations people, representing 26.9 per cent of all patients, were being treated in hospital. There have been a total of 30,084 cases of COVID-19 among First Nations people during the pandemic, with 33 per cent reporting they also had an underlying illness, compared to 34 per cent of the general population. Dumas called on the governments to prioritize getting the new oral and antibody COVID-19 treatments to First Nations communities, especially those which can only be reached by plane or ice road. “These treatments do not replace vaccines, but remain an important part of our arsenal to the overall fight against COVID-19 and its variants,” he said. Dumas said First Nations leadership in every community will keep making decisions to protect their residents, while AMC continues to talk to the province about its decisions. “A few weeks ago, we had to remind our provincial colleagues that if they change isolation restrictions, they have to talk to First Nations communities,” he said. “I’m concerned sometimes decisions are made that are a little rash. We’ve had 11 First Nations people die in the last few days_ Unfortunately, we are getting a little desensitized — it has been a long two years,” Dumas said. “But these are people who died of something that could be prevented.” kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca m Mis; GET UP TO $750 Instant Rebate BONUS RECLINER DEALS LIMITED QUAeNTITIEJ5! CASEY Rocking Recliner Now Only $749 Orig $1099 ► SAVE $350 JASPER Rocking Recliner Now Only $949 Orig $1249 ARTHUR Rocking Recliner Now Only $899 Orig $1199 ► SAVE $300 SCARLETT High Leg Recliner Now Only ' & & & $949 Orig $1399 ► SAVE $450 PINNACLE Rocking Recliner Now Only $999 Orig $1499 ► SAVE $300 LAWRENCE Leather Rocking Recliner Now Only $1399 Orig $1949 ► SAVE $500 ► SAVE $550 POWER AND/OR CUSHION UPGRADES AVAILABLE ON SELECT RECLINING STYLES L A 4^ B O Y" HOME FURNISHINGS && DÉCOR 204-783-8500 1425 Ellice Avenue Monday to Friday 10am - 6pm w www.la-z-boy.com/winnipeg ■ *Some exceptions apply, see store for details. 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