Friday, March 24, 2017

Bill 28 Is Not the Best Way to Exercise Fiscal Restraint

Winnipeg—CLAC is concerned that the Manitoba government’s recent introduction of Bill 28, the Public Services Sustainability Act, will mean undue hardship for Manitobans who can least afford it.

In a letter to Premier Pallister, Geoff Dueck Thiessen, CLAC Manitoba regional director, states that mandating the next four years of wage adjustments for publicly funded unionized bargaining units is not the best way to exercise fiscal restraint.

“Bill 28 weakens the ability of our members to negotiate, a charter right they exercised when they chose to unionize,” says Dueck Thiessen. “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?”

Dueck Thiessen states that the government can anticipate a corresponding impact on morale in the workplace. Disempowered employees often make for disengaged employees.

CLAC understands the government’s need for fiscal restraint, and believes that restraint can be negotiated.

“Looking back, it is evident that negotiated wage adjustments are responsive to economic conditions,” says Dueck Thiessen. “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.”

Bill 28 Is Not the Best Way to Exercise Fiscal Restraint

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