WINNIPEG – Manitoba government workers have said yes to five unpaid days off this fiscal year.

In exchange, the province has promised no layoffs during the same period of time and an arbitration panel will be appointed in their contract dispute. There hasn’t been a contract since last March.

The days off with no pay won’t apply to corrections, Selkirk Mental Health Centre and Cadham Laboratory.

This move saves the civil service 2.2%. When discussions began, there was talk of CoVid-19 cuts as high as 30%.