‘Fair deal’: MPI workers vote to end 10-week strike, back to work Friday

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This article was published 01/11/2023 (706 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

An overwhelming majority of the roughly 1,700 Manitoba Public Insurance workers voted to accept a new contract Wednesday, ending a strike that dragged on for more than two months.

The agreement, described by Justice Minister Matt Wiebe and union leader Kyle Ross as a “fair deal,” includes general wage increases of 13 per cent over four years. MPI services are set to resume Friday at 1 p.m.

Ross, president of the Manitoba Government Employees’ Union, said neither side was totally satisfied but believed workers are happy with the contract and looking forward to getting back to work. They had been on strike since Aug. 28.

The deal improves wages by about one per cent compared to a tentative agreement workers voted to reject Monday and ensures they will receive their signing bonuses promptly, Ross said. The deal includes signing bonuses of $1,800 each, plus two weeks’ worth of “recognition pay” for the time workers spent on strike without any bargaining happening because of the provincial election and government transition.

Having a partner willing to come to the table and negotiate made a difference, Ross said.

“This process had its hiccups, but overall, we got it done pretty quickly,” he said. “It’s never fast enough when we’re on strike.”

Speaking to reporters Wednesday evening, the justice minister cheered the government’s ability to successfully negotiate just weeks after being sworn in, and a little more than a week and a half after replacing the board members at MPI.

“It really sets the tone that we are ready to work with the working people of Manitoba to get fair deals and make sure that they feel included in the future of Manitoba,” Wiebe said.

He said he hopes it sends a message that “we’re willing to put in the hard work” to listen to workers, part of a governmental culture shift.

When asked how the government will pay for this labour-friendly approach, and whether the cost of higher wages would be downloaded onto ratepayers, Wiebe said the question would be better directed to MPI.

“The direction we’ve given them is, as I said, to be smart about how we’re getting this deal done, protecting ratepayers, protecting the overall health of MPI going forward. But we certainly haven’t given them directive about specific rate increases,” Wiebe said, stating the Crown corporation will have to seek approval from the Public Utilities Board.

Workers and the public were rightfully frustrated that the strike was allowed to go on so long, Wiebe said.

He didn’t have any specifics about the length of the backlog in MPI claims and services, but said the MPI board is “clear-eyed” about the challenges ahead.

Ross said he is proud of MPI workers and other union members who have taken labour action in recent months.

“They stood tall against a government that was really trying to push down unfair wages on them,” Ross said.

Now that the strike is over, he asked Manitobans to be patient as workers return.

“There’s a huge backlog of work,” he said.

MPI locations around the province will reopen to the public at 1 p.m. Friday with the majority of service available, according to a statement from MPI board chair Carmen Nedohin.

“I am pleased that we have been able to resolve the labour dispute with an agreement that is both fair for employees and responsible to our ratepayers,” Nedohin said.

“This has been a difficult time for MPI employees and our customers. I look forward to working with leadership to rebuild the culture of the organization while we restore services for communities across the province.”

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca