Contracts needed for 25K Manitoba government workers, union says

Manitoba's largest union is going on the offensive starting Monday morning, when they'll kick off a campaign designed to pressure the province into negotiating contracts for 25,000 government workers.

That's the number of workers the Manitoba Government Employees Union (MGEU) maintains have been left without a contract for a couple of years.

The livelihoods of home care workers, social workers and addictions counsellors are at the heart of the campaign.

Michelle Gawronsky, the president of the MGEU, said the goal at the bargaining table is simple.

"What we're hoping to achieve is a final offer, an offer from the government that we can recommend to our members, something that is respectful of what they do, that's it," said Gawronsky.

"Get to the table, let's do some negotiating, and let's come with a collective agreement."

Gawronsky said she thinks the changes are not only in the best interest of government workers, but for the province itself, too.

"The members are saying enough is enough and bargaining isn't this hard, it should never be this hard and their patience is at an end," she said.

"They just want to make a statement to draw attention from the government to let them know that they have to respect and value what our members do for them."

Radio ads are scheduled to air Monday featuring Manitoba's public servants' frustrations with the province. The union will also be launching a website to go along with the ads.