Manitoba Public Insurance preparing for Monday’s anticipated strike
Posted August 27, 2023 12:05 pm.
Last Updated August 27, 2023 12:09 pm.
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) outlined its contingency plan Sunday to minimize disruptions to customers ahead of what’s expected to be a full-scale strike beginning Monday morning.
BACKGROUND: Wages are a key issue in potential strike at Manitoba Public Insurance
The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (MGEU), which represents 1,700 workers at Manitoba’s automobile insurance Crown corporation, says workers will walk out Monday if no deal is reached.
Officials at MPI say they have offered increases worth 17 per cent over four years, coupled with an offer to go to binding arbitration on the issue of general wage increases. The union says the wage offer is not really a 17 per cent increase because it includes one-time payments and some non-wage items.
The last collective agreement expired 11 months ago.
MGEU previously said it was planning to set up picket lines in Winnipeg, Brandon, Thompson, Selkirk, The Pas and Steinbach.
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On Sunday, MPI outlined which essential services would continue.
Licence renewals, new insurance policies and insurance payments can be made at MPI’s broker partners.
MPI says its contact centre will be open for reporting personal injury claims, non-drivable collision claims and total-theft claims.
“Customers reporting all other types of collision damage claims, including hail claims, can now go directly to an MPI-accredited repair shop of their choice for vehicle estimates and repairs without contacting MPI first,” the Crown corporation said in a news release.
“The repair shops will obtain preliminary loss details on behalf of MPI and work directly with customers to initiate vehicle repairs.”
Other programs, such as driver testing, will be suspended during the strike.
—With files from The Canadian Press
