Manitoba public-sector unions launch court challenge over wage freeze

WINNIPEG Manitoba’s public-sector unions launched a court challenge Tuesday against wage freezes imposed by the provincial government.

More than a dozen unions, representing 110,000 government workers, nurses, teachers and others across the public sector, said the government’s plan undermines collective bargaining rights and is unconstitutional.

"The Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures that free and fair collective bargaining can take place through the right of association ... and we believe this Public Services Sustainability Act infringes on that right," Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour, said.

The act was passed by the legislature in the spring. It hasn’t yet officially become law, but Rebeck said it has already had an impact on contract talks. Employers in recent months have refused to discuss any wage increases, he said.

The legislation would impose a two-year wage freeze across the public sector as each collective agreement expires. That would be followed by a 0.75 per cent pay increase in the third year and one per cent in the fourth.

The unions’ statement of claim asks the Court of Queen’s Bench for an injunction against the bill and a declaration that the wage freeze is unconstitutional.

Premier Brian Pallister has said the restraint is needed as part of his plan to end almost a decade of consecutive deficits started by the former NDP government. He has urged publicsector workers to join him as part of an "all hands on deck" approach to balance the budget by 2024 as he promised during last year’s election campaign.