Civil servants could be next labour battle for the Manitoba government
The union that represents 11,000 Manitoba civil servants is planning a strike vote after negotiations appear to have stalled on the issue of wages.
The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union says the government has offered wage increases of two per cent each year for four years
In a letter to members, the union bargaining committee says that is not enough to keep up with inflation.
It's the latest potential labour trouble for the Progressive Conservative government, and comes amid a walkout that started Monday by 1,700 workers at Manitoba Public Insurance, the Crown-owned auto insurance corporation.
The province also recently reached an agreement to end a strike by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries workers that forced many government-run stores to close and disrupted supplies to private retailers.
The labour strife comes with a provincial election set for Oct. 3, and opinion polls suggesting the governing Tories are lagging behind the Opposition New Democrats.
There was no immediate response from the government Tuesday evening.
The Tory government angered public-sector unions in 2017 when it threatened to impose a two-year wage freeze on all new collective agreements. The government passed a bill to enact the freeze but never proclaimed it into law. Labour leaders said government negotiators acted as if it was law.
Last year, an arbitration board awarded retroactive pay increases to the civil service totalling about six per cent over four years, dating back to 2019. That collective agreement expired in March of this year.
"Your bargaining committee is strongly recommending that you reject the employer's offer and provide your committee with a strike mandate," the committee letter to members Tuesday said.
"A strike mandate shows strength and solidarity. The intention is to increase our leverage at the bargaining table so that we can achieve a fair agreement."
The strike at Manitoba Public Insurance, as well as the recently concluded strike at Manitoba Liquor and lotteries, prompted Premier Heather Stefanson to take to social media Monday. In a video, she said the government could not say yes to the union's demands, and accused them of seeking higher wage increases than those recently given to health care workers.
Labour leaders have pushed back, saying provincial politicians have been given higher raises through an automatic cost-of-living adjustment each year.
The Manitoba government and General Employees Union was planning to hold a rally at the legislature Wednesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2023
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake’s Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.
Case against ex-Mountie charged with helping China can go ahead in Quebec, judge says
A Quebec court judge has ruled that the case against a former RCMP officer charged with helping China conduct foreign interference can go ahead in the province.
Ippei Mizuhara, ex-interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani, will plead guilty in betting case
The former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has agreed to plead guilty to bank and tax fraud in a sports betting case in which prosecutors allege he stole nearly US$17 million from the Japanese baseball player to pay off debts, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.