November  29, 2022

Dear Member;

IBEW 2034 members, Manitoba Hydro, and many others in Manitoba have suffered the effects of the Bill 28 mandate and the continued attacks on front line workers. These attacks have taken other forms like a mandatory voluntary departure program and hiring freezes which have left the corporation at critically low staffing levels and ill equipped to operate its core business. In 2020 Manitoba Hydro staff were forced to take a 1.25% reduction in pay (3 - unpaid days) despite being in a strong financial position and very profitable for that year.  These are only but a hand full of the many attacks the government has dolled out to our hard working and dedicated front line workers.  The attack on Manitoba Hydro workers has not gone unnoticed by many who rely on the essential service our members deliver with pride. 

IBEW 2034 members have been asked to participate in a survey on the impact of the austerity agenda implemented by the Government of Manitoba. This survey will be used as a resource to educate and share knowledge with Key decision makers.  If you are able, Please take the time to Reach out to Jesse Hajer and complete the survey.  All the details are below.

Fraternally



 

Business Manager
IBEW Local Union 2034




Re: Online Survey regarding public service work under austerity government in Manitoba.
Dear IBEW 2034 member,
My name is Jesse Hajer, and I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and Labour Studies Program at the University of Manitoba. I am currently leading a research study with Ian Hudson (Professor of Economics), and Jennifer Keith, (PhD student, Department of Indigenous Studies) on the impact of the austerity agenda implemented by the Government of Manitoba. The project is being done in partnership with a large number of public sector unions, professional associations, and community organizations and networks, as well as the over two dozen Manitoba academics on this project.
We seek to document opinions, experiences, and perspectives on the impact of provincial government austerity on public services and programs and work conditions for public sector workers, including those delivering public services though non-profit organizations with government funding. By austerity, we mean expenditure and staffing cuts and restraints, as well as privatization and contracting out.
We are conducting a survey of public service workers (including those working in the non-profit sector delivering public services with provincial government funding) to gather information for this project. The survey is an opportunity for your experiences, expertise and opinions to be part of the study. The survey will take about 20 minutes and will be confidential.
Our research aims to be useful and of interest to public sector workers, and a resource to educate and share knowledge with decision makers and Manitobans more broadly. We plan to publish our work as a book and a series of one-page “Fast Facts” through the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Manitoba website and other media. For more details on the project and who is involved, see: https://mra-mb.ca/austerity-in-manitoba/
If you are available and interested in completing the survey, please email me at jesse.hajer@umanitoba.ca and a link to a survey will be provided.
Participation is completely voluntary and we have taken steps to minimize any risks related to confidentiality concerns (see survey for details).
If you have any questions about the research, I would be happy to answer them.
Thank you for your time.
Jesse Hajer
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics and Labour Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V5
Phone: 204.474.9057
Email: jesse.hajer@umanitoba.ca