MPI steams toward strike
Union for disputes Crown corp.’s claim it’s offering 17 per cent increase
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Winnipeg Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*$1 will be added to your next bill. After your 4 weeks access is complete your rate will increase by $0.00 a X percent off the regular rate.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/08/2023 (746 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A strike by Manitoba Public Insurance workers, whose duties include handling claims and issuing driver’s licences, is more likely after their union rejected the Crown corporation’s offer to go to binding arbitration on wage issues.
MPI said Wednesday the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union had put the brakes on its offer to go to binding arbitration.
It said the Crown had presented a “significantly enhanced offer with a global monetary value of up to 17 per cent over four years.”
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
A strike by Manitoba Public Insurance workers is more likely after their union rejected the Crown corporation’s offer to go to binding arbitration on wage issues.
It said the union, which represents 1,700 workers, confirmed strike action would likely be pursued.
“We are naturally disappointed with MGEU’s response because it means that an entirely avoidable strike might still occur,” board chairman Ward Keith said in a statement after the second day of negotiations concluded.
“With this enhanced offer, MPI employees would have seen immediate retroactive pay and bonuses, other significant increases and gains, and immediate benefit enhancements… plus the corporation offered to go directly to arbitration on general wage increases to ensure MPI employees not do worse than the significantly enhanced offer.”
But MGEU president Kyle Ross accused MPI and the provincial government of misleading people about what was on the table.
“Their claim that they have offered “up to 17 per cent” grossly inflates their actual offer by including non-wage items, one-time payments and other increases that flow only to some members,” Ross said in a statement before heading into a strike preparation meeting Wednesday night.
“If the government had actually offered wage increases of 17 per cent, our bargaining committee would already be recommending the offer to members.”
Ross said the offer really only provides wage increases of two per cent per year to half of the workers. It is seeking a better offer.
MPI said the union should argue its case before an independent arbitrator.
MPI said it is finalizing plans to maintain critical services if workers head to the picket line.
kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press’s city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin.
Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Related Articles
MPI workers prepare to follow liquor staff by going on strike
Advertisement Advertise With Us
Advertisement Advertise With Us
History
Updated on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 6:32 PM CDT: Adds union comment, shortens head, adds deck