CUPE’s collective agreement is the only provincial health care agreement that restricts the use of volunteers in order to protect the job security of union members.

Volunteers play an important role in our health care system. Health regions rely on numerous volunteers to carry out a variety of activities, including visiting and socializing with patients and residents.

However, under the CUPE-SAHO collective agreement, the employer cannot use volunteers to fill existing or new positions, and the use of volunteers cannot result in the direct layoff of any CUPE member.

The collective agreement further prevents the employer from providing any wage or remuneration to a volunteer – another safeguard to protect the bargaining unit work of CUPE members.