MGEU calls for renewed negotiations with assistance of conciliator

September 28 2023

You can help end the strike – send a message to the Premier
Tell Premier Stefanson that a fair wage increase isn’t too much to ask for

The Bargaining Committee of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU/NUPGE) which represents over 1,700 members working at Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) has requested the Corporation agree to resume negotiations and bring in a conciliator to help bargain a new contract.

MPI workers have been on strike since August 28, 2023 to reach a deal that provides all members with a general wage increase that allows workers to catch up and keep up with the soaring cost of living. Today, the National Executive Board of the National Union of Public and General Employees’ (NUPGE), of which MGEU is an affiliate, joined strikers on the picket line to send a message to MPI to get back to the bargaining table.

“We wanted to ensure our striking members knew that they have 425,000 NUPGE members supporting their bargaining priorities,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE President. “We also wanted to send a message to MPI to get back to negotiating a fair and reasonable collective agreement.”

“We wanted to ensure our striking members knew that they have 425,000 NUPGE members supporting their bargaining priorities,” said Bert Blundon, NUPGE President. “We also wanted to send a message to MPI to get back to negotiating a fair and reasonable collective agreement.”

NUPGE's national executive board joined the MGEU picket line with striking members who work at Manitoba Public Insurance.

MPI admits truth to substandard wage offer

Since the strike began, MPI and the government have made aggressive and misleading statements about their offer to members, with claims that have grossly inflated their actual offer by including non-wage items, one-time payments, and other increases that flow only to some members.

The reality is that the Corporation’s offer provides just a 2% per year general wage increase (or 8% in total over 4 years) and MPI spokesperson Ward Keith finally admitted the truth about the offer in the media this week.

While Kyle Ross, MGEU President, said it’s refreshing to hear MPI finally tell the truth about their wage offer, he said it’s unfortunate that the Corporation also made a false claim that MGEU’s Bargaining Committee is refusing to return to the bargaining table unless its wage demands are met.

“The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries strike was eventually resolved through good, old-fashioned negotiations and the assistance of a conciliator. You can’t find a resolution if you aren’t even talking. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and bargain a fair deal,” continued Ross.

MPI had not yet responded to the MGEU/NUPGE’s request to return to the bargaining table with a conciliator. The Corporation only responded to the conciliation proposal after MGEU/NUPGE sent a second letter to MPI threatening to ask the Manitoba Labour Board to appoint a conciliator under section 67(1) of the Labour Relations Act.