MGEU civil service members agree to new contract

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This article was published 29/01/2024 (671 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thousands of provincial government workers have voted in favour of a new four-year contract.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union says its 11,500 members, who work in various jobs (including snowplow operators, public health inspectors, court clerks, social service workers and correctional and conservation officers), will get a retroactive bump of wages of 2.5 per cent for 2023, followed by 2.75 per cent in 2024, three per cent in 2025, and three per cent in 2026.

There is also a new step of 2.5 per cent on top of each wage scale, an increase to the 20-year service step (to keep them two per cent ahead), as well as the creation of a new 25-year service step.

As well, full-time employees get a signing bonus of $1,800, while part-timers get $900.

“It’s been a long road to get to this point,” MGEU president Kyle Ross said in a statement Monday.

“With strong backing from the membership, our bargaining committee was able to secure an agreement that will help all members catch up and keep up with the rising cost of living.”

The new contract also includes additional wage increases in job classifications where there is “serious recruitment and retention challenges.”

“Chronic understaffing of the civil service has truly impacted our members’ ability to provide timely access to critical public services, like getting a Manitoba Health card,” Ross said. “Even court proceedings are being delayed.

“It’s time to fix the civil service staffing crisis — and this new agreement is a good first step.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca