Union wins fight over Manitoba Hydro layoffs
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/03/2022 (1303 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
An independent arbitrator has sided with Unifor in its battle with the provincial government over proposed Manitoba Hydro layoffs in 2020.
On Tuesday, an arbitrator ruled the layoffs requested by then-premier Brian Pallister were a clear violation of the “lack of work” clause in Unifor’s collective agreement with Manitoba Hydro, the union said in a release.
The PC government tried to impose layoffs in 2019 but was unsuccessful after Manitoba Hydro cited safety concerns with the staff reduction, the union said. The provincial government tried again in 2020, this time using the pandemic as a reason for the need for cost-cutting.
Treasury Board documents in 2020 asked all government departments to find from 10 to 30 per cent in savings to help the province fund the costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Hydro was at first told it needed to find 700 temporary layoffs. The government later lowered its cost-cutting target, and Hydro arrived at a deal in which some of its unions agreed workers would take three days of unpaid leave.
Unifor took the employer to arbitration.
“The PC government asked Manitoba Hydro workers to pay for its inability to govern with their jobs. We fought for good jobs and we fought for stable and reliable public hydro services,” Victor Diduch, Unifor Local 681 president said in the release.
Unifor’s “lack of work” article ensures layoffs may only occur if there is not enough bargaining unit work to fill positions. The arbitrator ruled that the government demanded labour “savings” well in excess of any reasonable staff reduction.
Hydro declined to comment.
fpcity@freepress.mb.ca