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Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk calls for two-year wage freeze or warns that layoffs will occur. Contract negotiations expected to open mid-March.
Winnipeg (18 Feb. 2010) - The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) says the province's NDP government should be negotiating with its unions at the bargaining table rather than causing confusion by talking to the media.
Manitoba Finance Minister Rosann Wowchuk said this week she will ask public employees to accept a two-year wage freeze to help balance the province's books and resort to layoffs if they refuse. "If we can get a pause, we will not have any layoffs," she was quoted as saying by CBC News.
“I’m surprised and disappointed that the minister would come out like this and begin negotiating through the media,” MGEU president Peter Olfert said after learning of the minister's comments.
“Our master contract for government employees doesn’t even expire until March 21. We haven’t even sat down at the table yet. If the government has a position to put forward, the time to do it is during negotiations.”
Wowchuk says the freeze will be "offered" to employees whose contracts are up for renewal, including nurses.
Olfert said the government should recognize that the economy has "twin engines" – public and private.
“We’ve consistently said we believe when the private engine is dragging, you need to stimulate the public sector to bring things up to speed," Olfert added.
"If the government is worried about the deficit, they need to get the economy going. Cutbacks for public sector workers alone won’t slay the deficit, but a growing economy will.”
MGEU expects bargaining to begin in mid-March. The province's master contract covers over 12,000 MGEU members who work directly for the province. No contracts already ratified, including Crown corporations, will be affected.
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