MPI workers walk out Monday in Manitoba labour dispute
Global News
As of Monday morning, 1,700 members of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) have walked out on their jobs at Manitoba Public Insurance across the province.
One Manitoba strike has been resolved, but another is just beginning.
As of Monday morning, 1,700 members of the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU) have walked out on their jobs at Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) across the province.
The job action comes on the heels of a six-week contract dispute between Manitoba liquor workers, also represented by MGEU, and another Crown corporation, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.
MGEU president Kyle Ross told 680 CJOB’s The Start that the union had hoped to bargain with MPI over the weekend in an attempt to resolve the dispute — which, like the liquor strike, centres around employee pay — but said the employer wouldn’t talk.
“We’re open and ready for it — it’s up to them,” Ross said.
Ross said the walkout includes unionized workers from a wide range of positions at the Crown corporation.
“There’s 1,700 workers — that’s from the call centre, estimators, adjustors, IT folks. … It’s a large corporation with a vast group of workers. All the service centre reps will be out as well.”
In a statement Saturday, MPI said its comprehensive offer would provide unionized employees with guaranteed 17 per cent increases over four years, and they’ve also offered to go to binding arbitration to resolve the dispute over general wage increases.
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