Winnipeg businesses frustrated by long MPI strike: ‘It’s affecting our daily life’
Posted October 17, 2023 4:45 pm.
Businesses that rely on Manitoba Public Insurance to operate are feeling the impact of the strike that’s now entered its eighth week.
Dili Ram Sapkota, the owner of Everest Driving School, says the strike has been nothing but frustrating.
“It’s affecting our daily life,” he said. “It’s affecting our family. We have a house, with a mortgage. We have all expenses to pay, and I am out of work right now.
“We are greatly affected by this strike because we don’t have the business now.”
Sapkota is not the only one. The trucking industry in Manitoba continues to feel the impact of the MPI strike.
Jim Campbell from First Class Training Centre in Winnipeg says his business has been heavily impacted.
“It has been a struggle for sure,” said Campbell, the company’s general manager. “It’s revenue that we will never get back. Still have payments to make, and we have our own backlog that we will have to deal with once things get running. MPI will have a tremendous backlog for Class 1 testing.”
Around 1,700 Manitoba Public Insurance workers hit the picket lines Aug. 28 after they were unable to reach an agreement on a contract.
MPI has offered an annual wage increase of two per cent per year for four years, but the president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) says it’s still not enough.
“Our goal is to bargain a deal, and our members expect us to bargain a deal,” said Ross.
“It’s been difficult on these members, on Manitobans. Really hopeful we can resolve this quickly once there is some new direction and fairness given to our members.”
The incoming NDP government, led by Premier-designate Wab Kinew, publicly supported the striking MPI workers and has vowed to work with them. That has Ross feeling optimistic.
“They’ve indicated that we are high on their priority list for getting this resolved and I am hopeful they are true to their word,” he said.
WATCH: MGEU to reject ‘final offer’ from MPI
Under labour laws in Manitoba, parties involved in a labour dispute can apply for binding arbitration if a strike continues for 60 days.
Julia Smith from the University of Manitoba says this is one of the longer strikes in recent memory.
“Nobody likes a strike, nobody likes a long strike,” said Smith, an assistant professor of labour studies. “I think, hopefully with the change in government, that will hopefully mean that a deal will get done because the best place for a deal to get done is at the table. Binding arbitration is there but the best place for it to be done is negotiated and then members can vote on it.”
