Residential and transitional care home workers at Saskatoon’s CBI Health Group have voted by a near-unanimous margin to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
The mail-in ballots were counted by the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board on August 14, 2019. The union won 98 percent of the unspoiled ballots cast in the secret ballot vote that was triggered by CUPE’s application to the SLRB on July 2, 2019. The win capped several months of organizing and card-signing.
The new bargaining unit will cover almost 200 employees who work in Saskatoon as childcare workers, community support workers, licensed practical nurses and homemakers.
“We are happy to welcome the workers at CBI Health Group into our growing union. Joining CUPE is one of the best decision workers can make to improve their job and secure fairness in the workplace,” said Tom Graham, president of CUPE Saskatchewan. “We will work with our new members to fight for fair wages and a legally binding collective agreement.”
Next steps will include electing a Local executive and a bargaining committee to negotiate a first collective agreement. The details of the founding meetings and election process will be posted on the website and e-mailed when confirmed.
CUPE is the largest union in the province, representing 30,000 members across a variety of sectors. CUPE represents over 30 locals in the Community Based Organizations sector.