This afternoon, over 60 MGEU members who represent a dozen different bargaining tables entered the Legislative gallery to silently send a message to government. All wore red t-shirts that said, “Still Without a Contract.”
“Over twenty thousand of our members have been in negotiations for far too long, some of them upwards of 20 months, or even longer,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “Bargaining Committees are frustrated by employers who seem reluctant to engage in meaningful negotiations, or offer funding mandates. And when they do make an offer, it falls short of addressing workplace realities or previous settlements within the wider public sector.”
In October, the Civil Service Bargaining Committee embarked on a week-long Fair Deal Tour, rallying at government workplaces and MLA offices across the province to keep the pressure on government for a fair deal. But the Civil Service is not the only bargaining unit still struggling after many months to get a deal at the table.
“Since the Manitoba Federation of Labour convention last May, MGEU elected reps and staff have been working to get the message out that this government has not been dealing fairly with its own workforce, or members of other public-sector organizations,” Gawronsky said.
Participating Locals/Components included:
The Addictions Foundation of MB - Component 16
All Nations Coordinated Response - Local 365
Career Connections - Local 142
Civil Service - Components 1 to 8
Macdonald Youth Services APHP - Local 369
Macdonald Youth Services Crisis Stabilization Unit - Local 221
MB Housing Authority - Locals 127 to 132
MB Agricultural Services Corp. Adjustors - Locals 359 to 362
MB Agricultural Services Corp. Admin - Locals 359 to 362
Southeast Child & Family Services - Local 395
WRHA Community Programs - Local 220
WRHA Health Sciences Centre Security - Local 249
WRHA Home Care/Home Support - Local 113
“Our members work on behalf of their fellow Manitobans, day in and day out,” Gawronsky said. “They plow our highways, they respond to our emergencies, they protect our most vulnerable. They’re proud of what they do, but frustrated about their negotiations being in limbo for so long. For months, we’ve been saying that a fair and respectful offer is not too much to ask.”