Judge tosses review into wage hikes for Métis, Michif CFS workers

The union representing Métis and Michif child and family services is relieved a judge has tossed an application to review a wage agreement.

Workers with Métis Child, Family and Community Services and Michif Child and Family Services won wage parity with their provincial counterparts through binding arbitration. The employer then asked the court to overturn the “unreasonable” decision.

Court of King’s Bench Justice Brian Bowman dismissed the application Tuesday afternoon.

“We were very optimistic that this would be the outcome, and we’re just hopeful that the arbitration outcome is implemented quickly so our workers can get those increases that they’ve fought hard for,” said Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union president Kyle Ross.

A copy of Bowman’s decision was not publicly available Tuesday.

At the time of the application, the child welfare agencies said increasing the pay for employees was “unreasonable” and the agencies “cannot manage due to lack of adequate funding from the Province of Manitoba.”

A total of 330 workers went on strike on March 25, but ended the picket two weeks later after an arbitration hearing was scheduled.

The arbitrator ordered “fair and reasonable” wage increases for both agencies in a May 20 ruling. At the time of the decision, child welfare workers employed by the civil service earned between $32.96 and $46.87 per hour, while Métis CFS workers made between $31.42 and $43.56 per hour. Michif CFS workers earned between $31.31 and $43.42 per hour.

The employer has 60 days to pay the increases or 30 days to appeal the decision.

nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca