Members of Manitoba Housing (Locals 127 - 132) ratify new five-year agreement.

Members of Manitoba Housing  (Locals 127 - 132) ratified a new five-year agreement today.

It was a long and often frustrating round of negotiations. Manitoba Housing is a unique employer, with both Civil Service and non-Civil Service employees working in the same organization. When the Civil Service filed for arbitration in spring 2015, it didn’t make sense to continue bargaining with a portion of members waiting for the outcome of the arbitration process.

In January 2016, however, the Civil Service ratified a new agreement, avoiding the arbitration process, and the Manitoba Housing Bargaining Committee was able to resume negotiations with the employer.

The new five-year deal includes employment security in a time of potential uncertainty, and contains no concessions. There are increases in wages each year, as well as an increase to the Health Spending Account and the introduction of a Weekend Premium.