Province pushes for wage freeze on non-teaching staff Minister of Education Cliff Cullen Citing budget restraints amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the province has asked school boards to participate in an “all-hands-on-deck” approach across the public sector to minimize the deficit by negotiating a two-year wage freeze with non-teaching staff. Citing budget restraints amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the province has asked school boards to participate in an "all-hands-on-deck" approach across the public sector to minimize the deficit by negotiating a two-year wage freeze with non-teaching staff. On Thursday, the Manitoba NDP caucus published a letter outlining a new bargaining mandate for boards who negotiate with approximately 80 unions which represent educational assistants, custodians, bus drivers and other school employees across the province.