Manitoba signs landmark jobs agreement to build four new schools, sparks debate over union access

The Manitoba government has signed its first Manitoba Jobs Agreement (MJA) with Manitoba Building Trades, a move Premier Wab Kinew says will ensure public infrastructure projects create “good, family-supporting jobs” while setting clear standards for wages, benefits, and apprenticeships.

Announced this week, the agreement will govern the construction of four new kindergarten-to-Grade 8 schools, two in Winnipeg’s Devonshire Park and Prairie Pointe neighbourhoods, one in West St. Paul’s Meadowlands, and one in southwest Brandon. It marks the first step in a new provincial policy requiring large public projects valued at $50 million or more to prioritize Manitoba workers, support apprenticeships, and guarantee fair workplace conditions.

“Manitoba workers are the driving force of our economy,” said Kinew. “We’re creating Manitoba jobs for Manitobans, by making sure our province is built with good, family-supporting jobs in the trades. This starts with putting Manitobans to work to build four new schools to the highest standards for our kids.”

The government says the MJA will apply to all contractors and workers on these projects, effectively tying provincial funding to standards designed to both raise quality and build local workforce capacity. Tanya Palson, executive director of Manitoba Building Trades, welcomed the deal, calling it “a win for Manitoba workers and for our entire industry.”

“We’re proud to work with the Manitoba government to make sure our public infrastructure projects are built at the highest standard, while creating good-quality jobs for workers across the province,” Palson said.

But not everyone agrees with the government’s approach. La Vérendrye MLA Konrad Narth, Opposition critic for labour, argued the deal unfairly favors unionized firms while leaving many non-union contractors and their employees out of the bidding process.

“Premier Wab Kinew is taking a page from Justin Trudeau’s failed economic playbook by picking winners and losers in Manitoba’s construction industry,” Narth said in a statement. “Many excellent southeast building companies, and others around the province, who take good care of their employees, paying fair wages and benefits, but do not use unionized labour, will be shut out of bidding for these projects.”

Narth cited concerns from his constituency, noting that projects like the long-awaited expansion of Grunthal’s Green Valley School could be sidelined if the policy discourages local firms. He accused the NDP government of using tax dollars to shore up political support among organized labour, while calling for a “One Manitoba” approach that would open the MJA to all Manitoba construction companies, regardless of union affiliation.

The new schools are the first test case for the MJA, which the government says will become standard for all large-scale public builds. Supporters argue the agreement will help ensure projects are completed on time, to higher quality standards, and with greater investment in Manitoba’s future tradespeople through apprenticeships. Critics, however, warn it could limit competition and disadvantage local builders who are not part of unionized trade groups.

As the policy rolls out, the debate between job creation, labour equity, and open competition is expected to intensify, especially as more public infrastructure projects move forward under the MJA framework.

This story was originally published in The Winnipeg Sun. It is republished under a Creative Commons license as part of the Local Journalism Initiative.