This summer, members of the Manitoba Nurses Union took the rare step of voting to “grey-list” HSC, a powerful public warning issued only five times over the past forty-five years. Grey listing alerts nurses that HSC is deemed unsafe, signalling they should reconsider or use caution when applying to or accepting work there. It doesn’t force current employees to quit, but it sends a clear message to the public and government about the facility’s working conditions. In November, the union grey-listed a second Manitoba facility, Thompson General Hospital, due to unsafe working conditions.
The vote to grey-list HSC this August came hours after staff learned of a sixth sexual assault on campus in just a couple of weeks, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. Security found the woman and took her inside for treatment. Police arrested a thirty-nine-year-old man soon after. On the same day, a patient being transferred from HSC’s Crisis Response Centre to the ER claimed to be carrying a bomb, sparking a police response. Both incidents underscored the union’s warning that the hospital had become dangerous. Shared Health convened a meeting with union leaders and government officials. In a statement, the organization pointed to steps already implemented over the years, such as hiring more safety officers, adding AI weapon scanners, and installing 100 new cameras. The Manitoba Nurses Union also demanded new measures: swipe-card access for tunnels, secure entrances always staffed, and a notice as soon as it’s known a dangerous offender is active in or near the facility.