“For months now, our Bargaining Committees have been ready to begin negotiating,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky, “but the employers have refused to schedule dates. This is completely unacceptable. Our members are working through chaotic changes in their workplaces right now, and not being able to move forward with a new collective agreement is just adding insult to injury.”
When negotiations didn’t begin, the MGEU wrote twice to the employer’s bargaining representatives, asking for dates. But they maintained that due to Bill 29 -- government legislation aiming to cut the number of bargaining units in Manitoba’s health care sector -- negotiations could not begin.
“There’s no reason for our members to be held hostage by Bill 29,” Gawronsky said. “These employers have an obligation to bargain with us in good time and in good faith.”
The union will make a case to the Labour Board that the employers must stop stalling and begin negotiations immediately.
“Our members deserve better than this,” Gawronsky said.