The Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) strike has ended, with announcements made by MPI, the Manitoba Government and the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) on Nov. 1. The strike, which began on Aug. 28, comes to an end as workers at MPI have voted to accept a new four-year contract.
“I am pleased to report that our government, just a few weeks after we were sworn-in, has settled the strike at MPI. The mandate we gave to MPI has allowed parties to come together at the negotiating table and settle the strike,” said Justice Minister Matt Wiebe, the new Minister Responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance in a release. “MPI’s bargaining team reached a deal that was fair, measured, and reasonable for these hardworking people while also demonstrating responsibility to Manitoba ratepayers.”
The new deal with workers includes general wage increases of three per cent in the first year, and three per cent, 2.9 per cent, and 2.8 per cent in the second, third, and fourth years. The new agreement also includes an $1,800 signing bonus for full-time employees which will be pro-rated for part-time employees. Workers will also see a two-week lump sum due to the government’s transition period where bargaining could not take place. Most workers will also receive additional 3.5 per cent wage increases because of a new maximum increment step for each pay grade.
“It’s been a tough round of bargaining and strike action stretching from summer into fall,” said MGEU president Kyle Ross in a release. “But our members stood their ground to achieve the fairness they deserved all along.”
According to MPI, employees will return to work on Friday with MPI locations reopening “to the public at 1:00 p.m. with the majority of regular services available.”
“I am pleased that we have been able to resolve the labour dispute with an agreement that is both fair for employees and responsible to our ratepayers,” said Carmen Nedohin, MPI board chair in a news release. “This has been a difficult time for MPI employees and our customers. I look forward to working with leadership to rebuild the culture of the organization while we restore services for communities across the province.”
The new collective agreement runs from Sept. 27, 2022 through Sept. 26, 2026.
