Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union

With over 32,000 members, the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union is Manitoba’s largest union, representing a broad spectrum of workers in every corner of the province - including those working in the civil service, Crown corporations, universities and colleges, arts organizations, health care facilities, social service agencies and the service industry. In other words, the MGEU represents members who are as diverse as the services that Manitobans enjoy every day.

Manitobans’ top priority is protecting public services — poll

Mar 112013
 
 Public Values
MichelleGawronsky

Services preferred over balanced budgets.

from the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union
 
MGEU representatives met with Manitoba Finance Minister Stan Struthers recently, armed with polling results that show Manitobans consider protecting public services a top budget priority.
 
In advance of the upcoming budget, the MGEU presented Struthers with recommendations on maintaining front-line services, and identifying savings and revenue sources.
 

“Manitobans have been vocal about their support for public services, and suporting services was something the current government pledged to do in past elections,” said Michelle Gawronsky, MGEU president.

"The message we sent today is this: you received a mandate from Manitobans to invest in and support the programs and services families rely on, and as 2013 budget deliberations continue this should be the priority."
 
The poll of 805 Manitobans, conducted by Viewpoints Research took place January 22-31 this year. Among the poll's findings:
 
  • 47 percent identified protecting public services as their top budget priority, compared to stimulating the economy (20 percent), balancing the budget (18.6 percent) or cutting taxes (11 percent);
  • 49 percent prefer a small tax increase to protect public services rather than service cuts (29 percent);
  • 80 percent want to see increased income taxes on corporations and on households with income in excess of $200,000 annually;
  • 77 percent say it's more important to protect public services than balance budgets by arbitrary dates;
  • 67 percent say the government should not eliminate the 600 jobs it has announced.
MGEU's recommendations to the finance minister included government protection of public services, modernized balanced budget legislation, increased taxes on corporations and top income earners, and multi-year funding for social service agencies and community colleges.