“Although the Civil Service Bargaining Committee decided to file for arbitration this past summer, their goal has always been to get back to the table,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “Even after arbitration hearing dates were set for May 2016, they continued to work to keep the pressure on government, arguing that a negotiated deal is always preferable to one that has been instated.”
After many delays at the bargaining table since negotiations began, the government finally offered Civil Service members a four-year agreement with a one percent raise in each of the first two years, and two percent in each of the last two years. Most public service groups, however, (the City of Winnipeg, the Colleges, the nurses, to name a few) who’ve been in bargaining with government received more generous settlements.
“Our question has always been why is the Province’s own workforce worth any less?” Gawronsky said.
Tell your MLA a fair and reasonable offer is the right thing to do.
Over the last few months,the Committee gathered nearly 6,000 online petition signatures in support of a fair wage offer for the Provincial Civil Service, and union leadership delivered those signatures to Finance Minister Greg Dewar and Minister Responsible for the Civil Service Kerri Irvin-Ross on Tuesday, October 6, 2015.
“The Fair Deal campaign is an effort to keep up the pressure on our leaders,” Gawronsky said, “encouraging all members to stand up and ask their elected officials: why must Manitoba’s Civil Service go through the delay and expense of an arbitration hearing when a fair deal, with a fair wage increase, is not too much to ask at the bargaining table?”
This question is being asked not only on behalf of the MGEU’s Civil Service Components, but other MGEU members as well, Gawronsky added. What the Civil Service achieves has significant implications for several other MGEU Locals, ranging from Manitoba Housing to Southeast Child and Family Services to the Falcon Lake Golf Course.
“In the last round of bargaining, those who work for Manitobans accepted wage freezes to do their part in tackling the deficit,” she said. “That means nearly twenty thousand working Manitoba families saw their income actually fall. Add to that the fact that over the last several years, these same workers are being asked to do more, with less. Positions are not filled when staff leave, and though the need for service may increase, there is not necessarily new hiring. Our members are proud of the services they provide, but stress and burn-out have become a sad reality of the job. A fair and reasonable offer won’t fix everything, but at least these members will know their employer is ready to treat them with fairness and respect.”
According to government records, there are 600 fewer Civil Service employees providing services today than there were four years ago.
“On top of this, some of Manitoba’s political leaders are now talking privatization,” Gawronsky said. “It’s vital in this round of bargaining that our members reach a deal that protects and respects the kind of public services that Manitobans value.”
DAY 1 - OCT 26th
Selkirk
Lorette
Steinbach
Day 1 Highlights - The Fair Deal tour kicked off with a rally
at Finance Minister Greg Dewar’s office, who met with members rallying in
Selkirk. It was then off to two rallies: one at the Selkirk Mental Health
Centre and another at MLA Ron Lemieux’s Constituency Office in Lorette. The day
wrapped up with an information session in Selkirk where Civil Service members
asked the committee questions about bargaining.
Winnipeg
Portage la Prairie
Day 2 Highlights - A chilly, damp Day Two of the tour started with a rally at the Minister Responsible for the Civil Service Kerri Irvin-Ross’ Constituency office in Winnipeg. After speaking with members of the media at the rally, the bus went to another rally at Minister of Labour Erna Braun’s Constituency office before heading downtown for a lunch-hour rally with members at the Woodsworth building.
Given the weather, it was an impressive crowd, and it warmed the chilled picketers to see the honks and waves that greeted them as they shared the message of the tour with people on Broadway. In the afternoon the tour headed west to Portage la Prairie. Some of the tour members went to MLA Ian Wishart’s office, while others joined up with MGEU members for a walk from the local MGEU Office to the Portage Provincial Building. The final tour stop of the day was a bargaining information session with members at the Herman Prior Senior Centre. Then it was off to Brandon to get ready for Day Three.
DAY 3 - OCT 28th
Brandon
Dauphin
Day 3 Highlights - The third day of the Fair Deal Tour started in Brandon with a visit to MLA Drew
Caldwell's office. Five MGEU members and President Michelle Gawronsky outlined
member concerns, including Charlotte McWilliams of the Corrections component,
who highlighted the fact that members are spending less in the local economy
without an increase in pay. Debbie Jamerson of the Legal Component said that
many workers are doing the jobs of two or even
three people now. The Brandon Sun also stopped by to interview President Gawronsky about the tour.
After a rally at the Brandon Provincial Building, several MGEU
members joined MLA Stan Struthers at his office in Dauphin. Similar themes were
echoed during this meeting. The negative impact of the hiring decrease was
discussed further. MGEU member Lorne Shadbolt explained that vacancy management
only leads to greater workloads and, in fact, means higher costs for
government. The geographical areas of responsibility for workers have
increased, and with more travel the related expenses end up costing the
government more.
Swan River
The Pas
Day 4 Highlights - Day Four of the Fair Deal Tour began with a meeting at Minister of Agriculture Ron Kostyshyn’s office in Swan River. Members spoke of challenges facing the civil service. MGEU Clerical component member Elaine Madill made an impassioned argument against cuts to the civil service, arguing that, with vacancy management, many people are doing the work of two or more. It's taking its toll on employees and some are choosing to leave the civil service. After travelling to The Pas, the MGEU held a meeting at the Wescana Inn to update members on the current bargaining situation.
The Pas
Thompson
Day 5 Highlights - Day Five of the Fair Deal Tour began bright and early with an information rally at the Provincial Building in The Pas that was well-attended by members. This was followed by a conference call between local MGEU members and The Pas MLA Amanda Lathlin. She heard four different public service employees relate stories of workplaces without workers because of vacancy management practices, of stressed out and overworked employees. Rosemary Hendrickson from Social Services spoke about a system that is at its limit. People are leaving the government to find work elsewhere. Employee morale is low and people just don't feel respected for the work they do.
The Fair Deal crew then got back on-board the bus and departed for the long drive back to Winnipeg. It was a busy four days on the road, and well worth the efforts of so many MGEU members and staff. A big "thank you" to those who took time out of their busy schedules to join in and support the tour along the way!