The Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) strike will not end anytime soon, the union (MGEU) for 1,700 striking workers says the corporation’s final offer is step backward.
In an emailed media release, MPI said “following five weeks of strike action and several days of conciliator-led discussions, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is disappointed that the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) is refusing to allow its 1,700 striking employees to vote on the enhanced final offer tabled by the Corporation.”
“In resisting fair and binding arbitration to avoid or shorten what is now a lengthy strike, MGEU leadership has consistently maintained that a bargaining table resolution – one their members could consider and vote on – was a preferable path,” said Ward Keith, MPI Chairperson. “Now that a significantly enhanced final offer has been tabled through the conciliation process MGEU requested, it has once again chosen to deny our employees that fundamental opportunity.”
Following four days of conciliation talks, MPI presented its final offer to end the current labour dispute yesterday (Sept 26). The proposal includes significant enhancements from the Corporation’s earlier August 22 offer, by adding more universal coverage for all unionized employees, and with significantly more front-loaded effect and impact. The offer includes total wage adjustments of 12.5 per cent universally available to all employees over time, along with an additional and immediate one-time signing bonus worth 2.8 per cent of average salary. All other benefit enhancements were also retained in the enhanced final offer.
The final offer tabled by MPI officials yesterday has a total four-year monetary value of approximately $3.3 million more than the August 22 offer, over 10% more in new money. By any measure, this is a significant and impactful increase.
Keith has reportedly also said that MPI will not be making any further offers, and if this deal is rejected, the corporation will wait until binding arbitration is required, which according to Manitoba labour laws, will kick-in after 60 days of strike action.
The walkout began a month ago.
