Provincial government employees in Manitoba have a new contract.
Thursday evening, the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union announced its Civil Service Bargaining Committee had finished counting all ballots and a majority of members voted to ratify a new five-year collective agreement.
After more than a year of negotiations, the MGEU bargaining committee filed for arbitration and put pressure on the provincial government.
“This was an especially long and difficult round of bargaining,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky.
Both sides reached a tentative agreement December 30, 2015 and the committee felt the province’s offer had improved.
Approximately 14,000 civil servants voted within the last two weeks.
“I think most members felt this agreement’s mix of wage and benefit increases and job security was a reasonable offer,” said Gawronsky.
The agreement includes general pay increases retroactive to March 2014. The raises are one per cent in 2014 and 2015 and two per cent in 2016-2018.
The contract also includes a no layoff clause.
