Union wants conciliation as Manitoba Public Insurance strike continues

The union representing striking Manitoba Public Insurance workers hopes a conciliator can help put an end to the job action, which is now in its third week.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union asked the Crown corporation to bring in a conciliator in an effort to help settle the contract dispute, MGEU president Kyle Ross told CBC on Wednesday.

A strike by MGEU-representedworkers with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries another Crown corporation was resolved last month.

"The conciliator is just an opportunity to bring in someone to facilitate conversation, and we know at MBLL, once that conversation started, we were able to resolve this very quickly," Ross said.

Liquor & Lotteries asked a conciliatorto help settle the dispute with MGEU earlier this summer, which the union agreed to on July 25. The strike ended on Aug. 24.

About 1,700 MPI workers began their strike a few days later, on Aug. 28, after failing to reach an agreement on a new contract with the public insurer. The main sticking point in the negotiations is wages for workers.

In a written statement, Ross also called for negotiations between the union's bargaining committee and MPIto resume, adding that the union has "repeatedly said we want to resume negotiations."

"We're always open to bargain. Our committees would take that call anytime to set up a an opportunity to bargain, Ross told CBC.

MPI chairperson Ward Keith said the Crown corporation is open to "exploring" conciliation if the corporation and the unionare "on the same page."

The corporation's offer to go to binding arbitration over the issue of general wage increasesis still on the table, Keith added in a Wednesday statement.

"A conciliator can help us streamline the arbitration on that issue, and we can discuss other issues to narrow the overall dispute," he said.

But Ross said the union would rather make a deal at the negotiating table.

"Arbitration is an imposed deal, and we would rather have an opportunity for our members to vote on a deal," he said.

"When you go to arbitration it takes our members' democratic rights away."

Under current labour laws, parties involved in a labour dispute can apply for binding arbitration in which a decision is legally binding and enforceable, similar to a court order if a strike or lockout continues for 60 days.