Manitoba Nurses Union releases details on proposed 4-year contract

The union representing more than 12,000 nurses in the province has released details on a proposed four-year contract.

The proposed deal includes a 2.5 per cent general wage increase starting April 1, 2024, a 2.75 per cent increase for 2025, and a three per cent increase each for 2026 and 2027.

The Manitoba Nurses Union (MNU) shared highlights of the proposed contract with its members on Wednesday, which was obtained by CBC News. The union's bargaining committee is recommending nurses vote in favour of the deal, according to a social media post.

A vote on the contract will be held at a later time. 

The deal also includes a $12,000 per year incentive for full-time nurses, and for part-time and casual nurses who work up to full-time hours. The incentive will take effect April of next year, once the existing incentive is set to lapse.

The new incentive is a two-year trial and will be continued for at least the remainder of the contract if it results in decreased overtime hours and reliance on private agency nurses.

There are also hourly premiums ranging from $2 to $4 an hour for nurses who work in intensive care, emergency departments, urgent care facilities and are assigned triage duties.

Licensed practical nurses would also get market adjustments of three per cent as of April 1, 2024, and one per cent each for 2025 and 2026. All classifications of nurses would get a one per cent market adjustment this year.

MNU's last contract, a seven-year agreement, expired on March 31. The union reached a tentative agreement with employers just weeks later.