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MLA Report - March 9, 2021

Provincial government doesn’t respect workers
danielle adams column headshot

As session resumed this past week, so did the Pallister government’s anti-labour agenda. The Pallister government continues to take an ideological approach to labour, actively working against workers no matter what the issue is.

Since taking office, here are some of the actions they’ve taken that have negatively impacted workers: 

• Introduced Bill 16 which impedes employees’ ability to be able to fairly negotiate with their employer and makes it easier for employers to fire workers who engage in their right to strike.

• Interfered in a myriad of labour negotiations including with  school bus drivers in Winnipeg School Division, the University of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, and MPI.

• Increased apprenticeship ratio from 1-to-1 to 2-to-1 which will compromise learning and safety. Our NDP government instated the 1-to-1 ratio in the early 2000s to ensure the safety of young, new Manitoba workers. 

• Reduced the number of workplace safety inspections.

• Introduced Bill 55, which removes the policy that requires that apprentices are hired to work on all public works projects. This change will make it harder for young Manitobans to complete their apprenticeship hours and become certified journey people. 

These changes have sparked outcries from unions and labour groups across the province and rightly so. These attacks on labour are unprecedented and make it even more clear that this government doesn’t respect workers or everyday people. Their interests lie with business owners and their profits, not the wellbeing of Manitoban workers. 

We are worried that there is even more anti-labour legislation hidden in the remaining bills yet to be distributed by the Pallister government  – something that has never been done in the history of Manitoba. If you are interested in voicing your opinion on these matters, please join myself and other guests on April 5 at 6:30 p.m. for our virtual town hall on the topic of labour issues. Please reach out to me via email for the link to the Zoom meeting. 

For the Zoom link for the labour town hall, or if you have any questions or concerns please reach out to me by email at Danielle.adams@yourmanitoba.ca or by calling me at 204-677-2744.

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