Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) faces a massive backlog of claims, road tests, and other appointments as its employees return to work following a two-month strike.
The strike ended last week after the union representing MPI employees announced that its members had voted to accept a four-year contract.
Now that the Crown corporation has restored services, its employees must process approximately 11,000 insurance claims, 15,000 road tests, and several other cancelled appointments, according to Carmen Nedohin, who recently assumed the role of MPI’s board chair.
To address the backlog, Nedohin said MPI management is helping process claims, and overtime is being offered to employees.
As for cancelled road tests, she assured affected individuals that they would receive notifications via text or email within the next few days, providing them with new dates and times for their tests.
“All I can do is ask Manitoba ratepayers to be patient with us a little bit longer while we try and get through all of this and get our services back on track,” Nedohin said further.
MPI employees returned to work on Friday with a new contract that includes a 13% wage increase, a $1,800 signing bonus, and an additional two weeks' pay in recognition of stalled negotiations due to the October 3 provincial election and government transition.
With its employees back at work, MPI has reopened all service and claims centres across the province. It has also resumed all front counter services, except for new driver testing appointment booking.
Around 1,700 MPI employees went on strike in late August after rejecting an initial contract offer meant to replace one that expired in September 2022.
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