The provincial government has announced up to 40 layoffs could be coming to those that work with the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC).
MASC looks after farmers, they’re there if farmers are having problems with crops, predators, and they also send out the adjusters that make sure the farmers get paid the insurance they need to continue. The corporation also does agriculture research.
Michelle Gawronsky, the president of the MGEU, says the layoffs will affect farmers all across the province.
“They’re (The provincial government) in the process of having to hire adjusters because we know, for instance, one of the adjusters said to me, there’s 60 thousand acres right now that haven’t been adjusted from last year to allow those farmers to carry on this year. So that work alone needs to be done. We know they’re hiring students right now because there’s so much work, it’s springtime, it’s farming time this is our farmers’ time to be able to get their work done.”
Gawronsky worries that if there aren’t enough people available to do the MASC’s work the farmers will be negatively impacted.
“If the farmers hurt, that’s the bread and butter for Manitoba, they feed all of us. We need to respect and support our farmers as much as we can.”
The province and the MGEU haven’t had much dialogue on the situation. Gawronsky says they received a call saying there’d be layoffs, at least 12 or 13 regardless of what happens, but the workers could stop 10-38 layoffs if they agree to take unpaid days which would equate to a 15 per cent pay cut.
Gawronsky says that’s the only option they’ve been given, get laid off, or take unpaid days.
“They were given a week to make a decision and what are you going to do? Do you guys want to take layoffs and not have a job or do you want to take a 15 per cent cut in pay? That’s what they’ve been offered.”
Gawronsky doesn’t know if the layoffs are permanent either.
The MGEU has sent Minister Pedersen a letter including their main concerns by this move:
- The fact that significant layoffs or work reductions are being imposed at a time when staff continue to face demanding workloads. Demand for MASC services has not declined due to the pandemic - this is why MASC has been hiring new adjusters in communities across Manitoba;
- The fact that there is enough work for MASC to see a need to hire summer students while still pressing its permanent workforce to accept layoffs or work reductions;
- The unreasonable timelines to respond to employer demands, particularly given the challenges of consulting workers who are spread out across the province at a time when in-person local meetings are not possible; and
- The negative impact that the proposed layoffs or work reductions will have on the important services provided by MASC to Manitoba farmers at a time when they face great market uncertainty.
The MGEU is calling on Minister Pedersen to reverse the requirement for the MASC to reduce workforce expenses by 20 per cent.
No response has been received.
Gawronsky says the goal is to make sure our farmers are supported and these people have jobs.
“Let’s sit down and talk about this and figure out how we best move forward, that we can ensure that Manitoban farmers are going to be kept alive and well and are going to be supported here. If there’s a need for 12 (layoffs), then why are we doing 40? And if we’re doing 40 then why are we hiring students? Is this about money or is this about the services and is this about keeping our economy strong and keeping Manitobans working? Those are what we’d like some answers to.”
Gawronsky is asking Manitoba farmers to contact their MLA to try and get answers. Gawronsky would love to hear from anybody who gets an answer from their MLA.
