What You Didn’t Know about The Original ‘Filmon Fridays’
Mar 07, 2017
It’s been almost a year since Manitobans elected a new provincial government. And with each day we continue to see a growing gap between what the Premier promised Manitobans and what he’s actually doing.
The Premier promised Manitobans he would protect and invest in public services and the people delivering those services, but he doesn’t seem to want to talk about that much lately. Mandatory reduced work weeks, known in Manitoba during the 1990s as “Filmon Fridays,” are one of the ideas he’s talked about in order to cut public service wages.
In 1993, then Premier Gary Filmon brought in reduced work week legislation. It forced Civil Service employees to take 10 unpaid days off each year. For some members, who needed every cent of their pay cheque to get by, this was a significant hit to their finances. For others who were in a better position to afford it, the extra days off were less of a burden. But as all MGEU members became more familiar with the effects it would have on their income – also to their pensions – there was a huge swell of unrest amongst government employees.
When an employee was mandated to take a day off, that meant no pension contributions for each day that happened. Civil Service members were starting to see their pensions were taking a significant hit along with their salaries. Thankfully the government ended that practice, but it took 2 years of fighting to get there.
Today, many Manitoba Civil Service members have the option of applying for Voluntary Reduced Work Week (VRW) days. VRWs have been in place since 2002 and, as their name states, they’re voluntary, not mandatory like “Filmon Fridays.” Pensionable service and earnings are protected during VRW days. Members need to understand this so they don’t learn the hard way and possibly see a chunk of their pensions disappear should mandated days off return to the Civil Service.
The MGEU has never supported the VRW program, but has also not stood in its way, because these days are voluntary and we know some members appreciate the flexibility it provides with work/life balance. We have continued to raise the issue that the voluntary reduced workweek still poses a number of challenges for MGEU members. With vacant positions still going unfilled, the VRW program places additional stress on workplaces that are understaffed. This impacts the ability of members to deliver public services that families count on.
Meanwhile, the Civil Service as a whole continues to erode. In a freedom of information request, stats show the Civil Service sat at 1,248 vacancies in December 2015 – and not even a year later in October 2016 that climbed to 1,476 vacancies.
So once again, that brings me back to what the Premier actually promised Manitobans. If he truly wants to protect and improve public services, mandating employees to take days off when they are already stretched thin does nothing to help improve public services. Forcing these members to accept unpaid days off will place additional strain on public services and weaken them. If the Premier is serious about protecting public services for Manitobans and respecting those delivering the services – then he’ll live up to his promise during the election and back away from heavy-handed legislation.
Comments
Comments are now closed
The least you could do was be accurate. It did not affect our pension. We were credited with full service. That's how they thought it would be palpable. It did by spreading the days did not make you eligible for EI
Anonymous - 2017-03-07 14:26
Hi Lois. The content of the blog post to which you are referring is accurate, including this quote, which I believe speaks to your comment: "When an employee was mandated to take a day off, that meant no pension contributions for each day that happened. Civil Service members were starting to see their pensions were taking a significant hit along with their salaries. Thankfully the government ended that practice, but it took 2 years of fighting to get there."
Russ Tychonick - 2017-03-07 15:38
Since "Filmon Fridays" were introduced clerical staff have had their work day reduced by 0.25 hrs which doesn't seem like much until you firgure out how many hours this adds up to in 33 years. The total is actually 2210 hours or more than one full year that we have lost in pension contributions if you have been working full-time since then. Now Pallister wants us to take further cuts! We have only had a total of 7% increase in five years. Pallister is such a hero not taking the 1.6% cost of living after giving himself and the rest a 20% raise. Someone needs to lay it on the line with Pallister and the media that we keep on taking the hits and are asked not to complain! I've about had enough!
Anonymous - 2017-03-10 16:00
Making VRW days mandatory a la Filmon Friday is scary. Due to my workload and the type of work I do, I find it difficult as it is to take my holiday days off ( finding when to take them is not easy) and the amount of work that awaits me when I come back has not been reduced. Working with the vulnerable in our province, I feel the impact of these vacant positions. If Palister wants to save money, hire more front line staff- he wouldn't have enormous hours of OT that need to be paid out ( or force us to take in time off, which does not solve anything). More front line staff would mean better quality of service to our ill,our children, our vulnerable, and less long term costs si h as worse illness, more kids in care, more people in jails, and more inquiries into preventable deaths.
Anonymous - 2017-03-10 18:16
The way Pallister is handling all his announcements about "dedicated wage settlements" and "pension changes" etc. is a really great example of workplace bullying, The morale in our workplaces is going down fast. People are unsure of their futures, even after long service in the government. Pallister just keeps dropping hints about big changes but is refusing to give any information about what those changes might be, who they will affect, and what kind of impacts those changes could have to the lives of the employees, and also to those we provide services to.
MB_Girl - 2017-03-18 14:50
So now that they have announced VRW for 2017/18 does that mean no Filmon Fridays, or are they doing both?
Kim - 2017-03-15 17:20
What were the specific days off that Government employees took?
Anonymous - 2017-03-19 18:21
Think it's about time for another general strike in Manitoba. I for one am getting a little sore in the mouth from getting kicked in the teeth from this government. Funny how he left the judges out of the equation of pay freezes. He probably thought he's going to need them on his side for this fight!!!!!!!
Anonymous - 2017-03-21 09:53