MGEU intends to reject ‘final offer’ from MPI as strike enters 5th week

The union representing striking Manitoba Public Insurance workers says it has no intention of putting the Crown corporation’s “enhanced final offer” to a vote.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) says the government’s latest offer was not fair.

Now into the fifth week of the strike – about 1,700 unionized workers walked off the job Aug. 28 – MPI described its latest offer to the union as “final.”

It comes nearly two weeks after both parties agreed to meet with a conciliator Sept. 14.

The “enhanced” offer includes moving forward by a year a 3.5 per cent permanent base pay step across all pay grades; a one per cent permanent special market adjustment for non-operational staff; an eight per cent wage increase over fours years; and a $1,800 one-time signing bonus.

The government withdrew a no-layoff clause it had previously offered, the union says.

Manitoba Public Insurance chairperson Ward Keith in Winnipeg Sept. 26, 2023. (Joanne Roberts, CityNews)

The Crown corporation feels it’s a fair offer overall, saying it’s in line with other increases Canadian public sectors have seen, and other offers agreed upon by MGEU.

“MPI has been as responsive as it can be to the union’s clear preference for a bargaining table solution that our employees can finally vote on,” Ward Keith, MPI chairperson, said at a news conference Tuesday. “We appreciate the efforts and skill of the conciliator and the bargaining teams for both sides, who both seem eager to resolve this five-week strike as soon as possible for the benefit of our employees and all of the Manitobans we serve.”

But the MGEU says the 3.5 per cent increase would only apply “to just under half of MPI members.” The union says it can’t recommend the offer to a vote, and it’s ready to go back to the bargaining table.

“The employer’s wage offer has barely changed since the strike began,” said MGEU president Kyle Ross. “It still falls far short of the rising cost of living, and far short of the 3.3 per cent and 3.6 per cent wage increases the premier is taking for herself and her MLAs.

“No matter how the government spins and misrepresents their offer, the reality is that one third of MPI workers would receive wage increases of just nine per cent over four years.

“We have said from the beginning that all members at MPI need wage increases that help them start to catch up and keep up. This latest offer leaves far too many members behind.”