The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) has won a long battle over fairly calculating the compensation of part time correctional officers for working statutory holidays.
“While many of us are enjoying holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving, these dedicated correctional officers are going to work to keep Manitobans safe,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “They’ve put the time in, now it’s time to make sure they are paid correctly.”
In 2005 the MGEU filed a grievance to respond to the concern that part time correctional officers were not being appropriately paid for time worked on statutory holidays. The union was given assurances that the employer was taking steps to fix the issue, however it was revealed through the ongoing diligence of the union and members that all hours were still not being accounted for. Another grievance was filled in 2014 and this past September an arbitrator ruled in the unions favor.
“This has been a long road for our members but we worked together and never gave up, “said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “This shows that unions really do matter and when we work together we can make a real difference in fighting for what’s right for those that deliver public services every day.”
It’s estimated over 1000 members could be affected.
This issue centers around part time Correctional Officers who work 12 hour shifts. In compensating them for work on a statutory holiday, the employer pays 8 hours and puts 18 hours into their banked time. This is in compliance with the collective agreement. However, since 2005, the employer had not taken into account when one of these part-time employees may have been placed into overtime in the bi-weekly pay period. In those cases, those employees may not have been paid the overtime owed to them.