Strike Action Update #2
The strike action initiated by Operating Engineers of Manitoba Local 987 (“OEM 987”) on Monday, February 23, 2026 continues to be in effect.
The Municipality continues to work on providing essential services to residents of the Municipality during this strike. We appreciate the patience of residents with the reduced levels of services provided during this period, as experienced with the snow drifting from high winds late last week.
The Municipality and OEM 987 worked closely to reach a new collective agreement over many months of productive collective bargaining negotiations, and were able to reach an agreement on most issues. Wages and duration of the collective agreement are the two primary outstanding issues.
The Municipality’s Position
The collective agreement expired on December 31, 2024. The Municipality has proposed a three year collective agreement (January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2027) with significant wage increases in Year 1, followed by substantial wage increases in Year 2 and Year 3.
The Year 1 (January 1, 2025) increases proposed by the Municipality range from a low of 4.35% for one classification (Solid Waste Casual) to a high of 13.49% (Certified Operator L2). In this proposal, eleven classifications receive an increase of over 8%, and of those, seven classifications receive an increase of over 10%.
The Year 2 (January 1, 2026) increases proposed by the Municipality range from 3.89% to 4.17%.
The Year 3 (January 1, 2027) increases proposed by the Municipality range from 4.1% to 4.8%.
The Municipality believes that these increases, combined with the overall package negotiated with OEM 987 and the existing terms of the collective agreement between the parties, represents a fair and reasonable settlement proposal. It also balances the Municipality’s interest of providing enhanced terms and conditions to its employees while reasonably managing expenses for the taxpayers of the Municipality.
The Challenge with a Two Year Agreement
OEM 987 had proposed a two year agreement (January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2026) in its final offer prior to the strike, with the Year 1 and Year 2 wage increases proposed by the Municipality. The challenge with a two year agreement is that it would expire on December 31, 2026, and would be open for full re-negotiation for a new collective agreement as early as December 1, 2026. The Municipality’s position is that a third year, with the wage increases it has proposed, is more appropriate given that it is already March 2026.
OEM 987 Proposals For Third and Possible Fourth Year
OEM 987 has recently provided the Municipality with a proposal for a third year with Year 3 (January 1, 2027) increases ranging from a low of 4.01% to a high of 38.62%. All but two classifications have wage increases over 7.0% with this proposal, and three classifications have proposed increases over 20%. The Municipality is not agreeable to these substantial increases in Year 3 given the significant increases that are proposed in Year 1 of its wage proposal.
The Municipality values its employees and recognizes the importance of the services they provides. The Municipality also respects the right of its employees to strike as part of the collective bargaining process.
We will continue to work toward a resolution for a new collective agreement that is fair and reasonable, balancing the interests of employees and residents of the Municipality.
