The Canadian Press
WINNIPEG–Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government faced protesting students and the threat of a labour lawsuit yesterday as it moved to freeze public-sector wages and raise post-secondary tuition fees.
A bill introduced in the legislature would force a two-year wage freeze on public-sector workers, including teachers, nurses, and doctors who are paid through fees, when their current collective agreements expire.
They would receive a 0.75 percent pay increase in the third year and one percent in the fourth.
“We’re taking a moderate and reasonable approach here that we think will put us on the road to recovery in this province,” Premier Brian Pallister said.
While he described the bill as fair because it does not call for existing contracts to be re-opened, a top provincial labour leader said the government is interfering in collective bargaining and the bill could face a court challenge.
“We want to work together to balance the budget and we think we can do that at the bargaining table,” said Kevin Rebeck, president of the Manitoba Federation of Labour.
“Them limiting our ability to do so isn’t fair and isn’t reasonable.”
Finance minister Cameron Friesen wouldn’t rule out further moves to cut labour costs.
The government already has floated ideas such as cutting pension benefits or forcing workers to take unpaid days off.
Another bill introduced yesterday would remove a cap on tuition fees, which limits increases to the rate of inflation.
It would allow for annual tuition hikes of five percent on top of the inflation rate.
The aim is to give colleges and universities a much-needed cash injection, said Education minister Ian Wishart, who added scholarships and bursaries would be increased to help low-income students.
A few dozen students raised banners and chanted loudly outside the chamber after the bill was introduced while inside, the Opposition New Democrats said the tuition hikes would hurt.
“In my own constituency . . . students are already using food banks to make ends meet,” noted education critic Wab Kinew.
“Does the premier expect students who use food banks to come up with another $1,250 over the next four years?” he asked.
