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Manitoba liquor, lotteries workers ratify 4-year deal to avoid strike. Employees are set to receive 8% boost in their hourly rates. It will be spread over 4 years. The contract has been expired since early 2014.  
 
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-liquor-lotteries-workers-ratify-4-year-deal-to-avoid-strike-1.3204906

Nice pay and union control from our NDP Provincial Government for luxury items like lottery and booze.  
 
Healthy dose of sarcasm here.  
 
Like the odd shot and a nice, cold beer. Maybe a lottery ticket here and there, but I'll never vote NDP.  
 

Many MGEU contracts have been expired for at least two years. Not just this one.  
Mine included! Very frustrating.  
Finding it hard to blame the various employers. I find MGEU is very slow in negotiating contracts for their members. Come on MGEU. Start looking after the members!!  

redwine1966 said "Many MGEU contracts have been expired for at least two years. Not just this one.   Mine included! Very frustrating.   Finding it hard to blame the various employers. I find MGEU is very slow in negotiating contracts for their members. Come on MGEU. Start looking after the members!!   "

redwine1966, you obviously haven't been following progress in the multiple ongoing MGEU negotiations... Although YOU may find it hard to blame employers, most often it is them who aren't returning to the table to negotiate. As well, as a MGEU member myself who really cares if there is no contract. You still get paid, and if there are increases they are retroactive, so no big deal. Having said this I myself am no large fan of the MGEU

So health care support staff, many of whom needed a couple years of college, got 7% over 5 years, and mostly unskilled store staff got 8% over 4 years! It doesn't seem right, that's for sure.

Totally agree. Pretty bad actually.

PJC said "    redwine1966 said "Many MGEU contracts have been expired for at least two years. Not just this one.   Mine included! Very frustrating.   Finding it hard to blame the various employers. I find MGEU is very slow in negotiating contracts for their members. Come on MGEU. Start looking after the members!!   " redwine1966, you obviously haven't been following progress in the multiple ongoing MGEU negotiations... Although YOU may find it hard to blame employers, most often it is them who aren't returning to the table to negotiate. As well, as a MGEU member myself who really cares if there is no contract. You still get paid, and if there are increases they are retroactive, so no big deal. Having said this I myself am no large fan of the MGEU "

now retired (past) MGEU member, they most often didn't start to negotiate until a contract had expired & it IS a big deal really. Even though any increases are retroactive & you get a nice chunk of money, you also pay a whack of tax on it.

The consumer price index over the last 5 years in MB has averaged 1.9%, so 8% over 4 years doesnt sound bad at all. If anything these workers will just maintain their lifestyle, much better than losing money every year as costs go up.  
 
*Not directed at any individual, just a musing*  
 
I've never understood why anyone begrudges the success/improvement of others. Might write it off as jealousy but its I'm guessing it's a little deeper seated.  
 
Edited by Arax, 2015-08-27 00:13:17

As someone who has a friend in Lotteries it's not the wage increase that we should be worried about. It's the increase of the employer paid pension plan, benefits for life after retirement that they received that we should all be questioning. Do some checking because this contract is not in the best interests of average Manitobans!!! I guess we'll see more of this with an election next year!!  

Here are a few more!  
 
The article is actually inaccurate, its not the liquor and lotteries, its the liquor and gaming authority and has nothing to do with the stores, or their staff!  
 
PJC - you understand that the wage increase retroactive pay, is ONLY if YOUR union negotiated that right? its not an assumed part of bargaining!  
 
Opinionated - as mentioned above, nothing to do with stores, or the staff, and "many unskilled" isn't accurate even if not as much education as yourself perhaps.  
 
I could go on, but really some of you should do some research before spreading your wisdom on this site. I think I will go make a purchase from the unskilled now.

SJK said "As someone who has a friend in Lotteries it's not the wage increase that we should be worried about. It's the increase of the employer paid pension plan, benefits for life after retirement that they received that we should all be questioning. Do some checking because this contract is not in the best interests of average Manitobans!!! I guess we'll see more of this with an election next year!!   "

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/amalgamation-of-two-crowns-brings-windfall-275088521.html

Just reading through the comments I just can't help question the idea that to be able to get ahead one has to better themselves. When I read the comments about the workers In the health sector giving more to those who are lower on the pay scale it sort of reflects on society as a whole. To make the medical system work you have to have all parts of it staffed to a certain level or the work load increases for everyone. The idea that a certain group of people don't bring much to the table sometimes just doesn't apply, sometimes to retain a sector you have to pay more. The idea of entitlement seems to run rampant in our society and not just for those just scratching by.  
 
I have likely told the story of a wind up watch where if the tiniest or maybe cheapest part fails the watch quits working, maybe something to think about when looking at those who are below you on the ladder.

I certainly screwed up on the above comment, oh well it's late and I'm old.