WINNIPEG - The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has filed a complaint with the Manitoba Labour Board against the provincial government, claiming bargaining for more than 10,000 health-care workers has been improperly delayed.

CUPE filed the complaint last Friday.

It states the Labour Relations Secretariat - the body representing health-care facilities in Manitoba - has improperly delayed bargaining following the Greg Selinger government's decision last spring to merge several rural regional health authorities. As a result of that decision, CUPE officials say a vote was ordered to begin the process of allowing affected employees to choose which union will be representing them under their newly amalgamated areas.

Since then, bargaining on new union contracts for 34 health-care locals - as well as for some health authority employees - has been delayed by the government.

"This leaves thousands of health care workers in Manitoba waiting indefinitely for a contract to be negotiated," said Mark Kernaghan, CUPE's chief negotiator. "It's simply unacceptable, and we want to get back to the bargaining table on behalf of our members."

CUPE is the largest health-care support union in Manitoba, representing 10,500 workers.