Thursday, May 18, 2017 An Open Letter to the Premier Newsletters On March 20, the government of Manitoba introduced Bill 28, The Public Services Sustainability Act. This bill outlines mandatory limits on wage increases for employees whose wages are funded in part or fully by the province of Manitoba. This includes several Local 306 bargaining units. CLAC has begun lobbying the government for changes to Bill 28, and has sent the following letter to the government. We encourage you to contact your MLA to support CLAC members affected by this bill. Dear Premier Pallister, On behalf of the members of Education, Service and Health Care Union, CLAC Local 306, I am writing to express concern about the Manitoba government’s introduction of Bill 28. Specifically, mandating the next four years of wage adjustments for publicly funded unionized bargaining units is not the best way to exercise fiscal restraint. Our first concern is that Bill 28 weakens the ability of our members to negotiate, a charter right they exercised when they chose to unionize. Additionally, a general wage freeze will result in financial hardship for many Manitobans. Consider school custodial assistants, dietary cooks working with seniors, or educational assistants working with high needs students. These are not high income earners, and many are working more than one job while raising a family. When these Manitobans struggle to keep up with the pace of inflation, will the wage freeze have had a net benefit? Finally, we anticipate a corresponding impact on morale in the workplace. Disempowered employees often make for disengaged employees. CLAC understands the need for fiscal restraint, and we believe that restraint can be negotiated. Looking back, it is evident that negotiated wage adjustments are responsive to economic conditions. There was a time when three percent wage adjustments were standard in Manitoba. Those adjustments have become on average significantly smaller, even including examples of wage freezes, as economic conditions dictate and without the need for legislation. We respectfully urge the Manitoba government to reconsider this legislation and seek alternate ways to engage the relevant stakeholders in discussions about fiscal restraint. Sincerely, Geoff Dueck Thiessen Previous Next You might be interested in Strathcona Mechanical Workers Approve New Agreement with Wage and Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026 Ready To Deliver 3 Jun 2026 The Miracle of Many Hands 2 Jun 2026 Velocity Mechanical Workers Secure New Contract with Wage and Benefit Improvements 1 Jun 2026