CANADA
A union representing Public Servants in the Canadian Province of Manitoba is taking the Provincial Government to court claiming it is deliberately dragging its feet in contract negotiations.
The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union (MGEU) says the Government is refusing to appoint an arbitration panel.
However, Minister for Finance, Scott Fielding says a panel is premature as face-to-face negotiations have not exhausted the possibility of a settlement.
President of the MGEU, Michelle Gawronsky (pictured) disagrees.
Under the Civil Service Act, the Government has no choice but to appoint a panel if either the union or the employer requests it, as long as bargaining has started.
“The union requested arbitration in July,” Ms Gawronsky said.
She said contract negotiations began in April after the collective agreement expired on 23 March.
“The Government … is not coming clean at the [bargaining] table,” Ms Gawronsky said.
“It’s not sharing with us what is actually there for us in bargaining.”
She said it was pointless to enter into a lengthy bargaining process without knowing where the Government was coming from.
An arbitration panel would have the power to impose a settlement, including wage increases.
Mr Fielding said the Government decided not to appoint an arbitrator because there had been only a day-and-a-half of negotiations.
“We encourage the union and the Civil Service Commission to get together to continue discussions,” Mr Fielding said.
“Usually, these things take months.”
Winnipeg, 9 October 2019
